In the poem "The Raven," what does the speaker mean by asking "is there balm in Gilead?"

Because the balm is typically viewed as a remedy for those with broken hearts, it would make sense that the narrator in The Raven would want such a remedy as he is lamenting Lenore.

The balm of Gilead was also viewed as something of great value and not necessarily easy to obtain. Poe includes this reference to indicate the narrator's desire for hope. Authors often include allusions to the balm of Gildead for this same reason. Think of it like this--if there can be a possibility of mending something you have badly broken (a heart in this case), wouldn't that give you some hope? Some desire to keep on living? That is what the narrator is looking for in this passage, as unlikely as it is.