A nameless, first
person narrator, tells the story of an old man who he is most fond of, yet
disgusted by. The story begins with the narrator, who convinces the reader that
he is not insane, but wants to murder the old man because of his blinding eye. Not
only does this reveal the mental state that the narrator is in, it also demonstrates
that the evilness in a person can be in all of us. For that reason, the
narrator finds numerous attempts to strike and kill the old man but hesitates
when the opportunity comes. The murder didn't have to do with seeking revenge,
but the evilness in the eye made him psychotic and he could no longer take the torture.
Therefore, the narrator took the old man’s life in order to escape his fear.
Granted at the time, the narrator didn't feel guilty however, a voice in his
head grew louder and the incessant beating of the old man’s heart pestered his
mind more and more which resulted in his admittance of the murder.
This piece from
Edgar Allan Poe fascinated me because of the sick twisted hallucinations and
illusions he created with the main characters. The darkness and eerie works that
he reveals lures me to wanting more! The evil that is portrayed in this story
as well is commendable. However, what I really liked about the story was that
it wasn't your stereotypical kind of horror. It was something that could relate
to modern day situations, such as those who were put in facilities due to their
mental states and psychological problems. These images that Edgar creates put
you in a perspective that you’re watching a movie, waiting for a suspenseful
moment to happen!
Nevertheless,
those who are interested in the psychotic, horror, and repugnance tales, like
the Tell-Tale Heart, are highly recommended. The weirdness and the descriptive details
that this short story contains will hook your attention, making you want to
continue the reading. Stories like these will give you more of an insight on
how evil is exemplified with these fictional stories and how the symbolism is
carried out. Even those who are not a fan of the spooky tales and gruesome descriptions
will give you a different perspective and can even change your opinion.
