Insanity Defense In The Tell-Tale Heart By Edgar Allan Poe

Introduction

Students, past and present, around the country have been tantalized and mystified by the works of Edgar Allan Poe. Poe has dazzled readers form around the world with his mesmerizing words and unrivaled characters with their unique qualities and perversions. It is one of these thought provoking, yet peculiar, characters that leads readers to endless debate. The narrator from “The Tell Tale Heart,” is one of those characters who keeps readers on their toes and arouses their curiosity. After one reads the perplexing short story, the reader is left wondering if the narrator is sane or insane. Although there is considerable information to support both sides of this intriguing argument, it is the defined diagnosis of the psychopath and

It is quite possible that Poe wrote this short story to incense the readers and have them gain insight to the possible ramifications of the insanity defense. To understand the law and the insanity defense plea debate that is still relevant today, one must comprehend the characteristics or qualities that a person must have and lack in order to be considered insane. Today’s law states to be able to use the insanity defense, one must have a mental defect or disease at the time of the murder or crime ( ). The definition of an insanity defense was not much different in 1843. Like now, a person had to be impaired at the time of the crime and unable to distinguish right from

Our narrator begins his plight by confessing to a well-planned murder. He also proposes that he is not insane, “…nervous—very, very dreadfully nervous I had been and am; but why will you say that I am mad…You fancy me mad. Madmen know nothing.” (Poe, 1843) Throughout the killer’s diatribe he continually highlights to his readers why he is not “mad”. The narrator’s focal point of what disqualifies him from being mad is his brilliance.

From the beginning he planned to kill the old man, but he cautiously waited and meticulously organized the execution of his plan until the timing was right. “You should have seen how wisely I proceeded—with what caution—with what foresight—with what dissimulation I went to work!” (Poe, 1843) The narrator stalked his victim each night hoping for a chance to implement his heart’s desires. He had forethought that the murder would take place when he caught a glimpse of the old man’s eye. The narrator, the murderer, convincingly proves time and again that he is not insane. His actions and behaviors are deliberate. His actions and behaviors negate the very essence of insanity