And after a year was over the Soul came down to the shore of the sea and called to the young Fisherman, and he rose out of the deep, and said, 'Why dost thou call to me?' [through] 'Love is better,' answered the young Fisherman, and he plunged into the deep, and the Soul went weeping away over the marshes.

In Oscar Wilde's "The Fisherman and His Soul," the depiction of the Soul embodies the eternal conflict between worldly desires and life fulfillment. This is demonstrated by the Soul's persistent call to the young Fisherman, seeking to guide him toward a more meaningful existence. The mermaid also demsontrates this also by requiring the boy to give up his soul for her love. Furthermore, the mermaid is acting as the median to demonstrate worldly desires. The Soul personifies longing for a higher existence and life fulfillment while the mermaid personifies hedonistic desire and its implications on a higher existence and life fulfillment.

The Soul's dialogue with the Fisherman highlights the dichotomy between temporal desires and enduring virtues. When the Fisherman, driven by his worldly affection, prioritizes love over the Soul's guidance, it signifies the triumph of transient emotions over spiritual enlightenment. The Soul's tearful departure, “weeping away over the marshes”, symbolizes a profound sorrow or disappointment in witnessing the Fisherman's choice, recognizing the inevitable separation due to their irreconcilable differences.

The Soul's physical separation from the boy highlights the cost of hedonism. The souls separation shows that when one falls victim to hedonistic desire it comes at the cost of fulfillment and higher purpose. Notably, ( not in passage but relevant), the ultimate death of the fisherman shows the point of no return where higher purpose and life fufilment are no longer possible

The soul’s persistent call to the boy demonstrates ones intrinsic understanding of hedonistic gratifying behavior and truly fulfilling behavior.  “'Why dost thou call to me?' [through] 'Love is better,” states the Fischerman to the soul when it calls. While the boy consciously believes that love is better, the soul still calls. This demonstrates that individuals have an intrinsic understanding of when there behavior will ultimately end poorly even if it is immediately grafting. For example, one could overindulge in alcohol which feels really good in the moment but there will be a feeling in the back of there head that tells them they shouldn’t be doing that. The inner conflict is highlighted through the imagery

The Soul's association with the sea and the imagery of weeping over the marshes evoke a sense of vastness and desolation. The sea often symbolizes the unknown, representing the depth of the human subconscious or the mysteries of existence. The Soul's departure and weeping suggest a profound loss or separation from the Fisherman, hinting at the immense emotional turmoil and existential void resulting from their parting. This shows the existential stress that one suffers over the conflict of worldly desires and higher purpose. 

The portrayal of the Soul in Wilde's narrative transcends a mere character and embodies profound philosophical concepts. It embodies the struggle between hedonic desires and higher purpose. This is done through the medians of the soul and the mermaid. Through the Soul's poignant depiction, Wilde prompts contemplation on the complexities of human desires, and the sacrifices inherent in the quest for a deeper, more meaningful existence.