The Tell Tale Heart Insanity

The “Tell-Tale Heart” was one of many stories written by Edgar Allan Poe during a short period of time between 1840 to 1849. Most commonly, Edgar Allan Poe centered his writings around the idea of gothic literature. This is a style of writing encourages and employs elements of horror, death, and even romance. Furthermore, in the “Tell-Tale Heart,” Edgar Allen Poe focuses on the corrupt thoughts and actions of one unnamed narrator. Throughout the story, we find that the narrator persistently tries to convince the reader of his sanity, when in fact, his actions alone demonstrate the irony of his claims. To elaborate, as the story begins, the narrator speaks about his part in the murder of an old man. In doing so, he continually tries to persuade

In “The Accomplice In ‘The Tell-Tale Heart,’” Paul Witherington perceives that the focus of the “Tell-Tale Heart” centers around a faulty self-image and denial of personal sanity which leads the narrator to believe that his actions made were admissible (Witherington 471). As we read the story, it is made undeniably evident that not only the narrator is clearly insane, but at the same time, the narrator’s insanity is rendered transparent (Witherington 471). The narrator states, “He had the eye of a vulture… Whenever it fell upon me, my blood ran cold; and so by degrees --very gradually --I made up my mind to take the life of the old man” (Poe 2). This shows the extent of the narrator's madness. He would be willing to kill the old man, a friend, just because he was repulsed by the old man’s eye. Furthermore, as stated within the story, the narrator cared for the old man, but he desperately wanted his eye to be destroyed. He would do whatever it took to make sure his dark deed was done. By now we undoubtedly agree that the narrator is indeed mad, however, throughout the story the narrator continually claims exactly the opposite. For example, as we read, the narrator even goes as far as to ask the reader why we perceive him to be mad. Additionally, Witherington notes that the narrator’s question of sanity shows

This, although made intentionally, has become the ultimate case of irony. To elaborate, the narrator does not fail to describe every horrific detail of his evil deed, but refuses to label himself as the villain. As we reach the end of the story, we see that the narrator begins to feel a sense of unease as he believes the old man is still alive. He states, “No doubt I now grew very pale; --but I talked more fluently, and with a heightened voice. Yet the sound increased…I gasped for breath --and yet the officers heard it not” (Poe 17).Witherington notes that after all this time, the narrator’s conscience wins out, forcing him to unmask the horror below him (Witherington 474). However, although the narrator confesses of his crime, he still is unable to comprehend the effect of his actions. Furthermore, the narrator proceeds to unveil his dark deed, but not without his final cry, “Villains!” (Poe 18). As stated previously, the narrator’s final cry leaves us with a profound sense of irony as the narrator marks the others as criminals at the very same time he frantically uncovers the dismembered body of his