The story is told from the perspective of the main character, who also serves as the narrator. This allows the reader to fully comprehend the events in the story. However, as the narrative progresses, it becomes clear that there are doubts about the credibility of the narrator’s account.
Although the narrator possesses extreme opinions, it remains uncertain which elements of the narrative are altered as a result of their insanity and which aspects accurately depict reality. The use of first-person narration is essential in aiding readers’ comprehension of the protagonist’s mental condition and driving the storyline forward.
The narrative revolves around the close connection between a man and his cherished cat, Pluto. At first, the man has a strong affection for his loyal companion. However, this fondness ultimately results in the cat’s downfall. Pluto constantly shadows his owner – always by his side or on his lap. Gradually, this conduct angers the storyteller, making him increasingly annoyed not only with Pluto but also with his other pets.
One night, in a state of extreme intoxication, the narrator returned home and grabbed his pet cat, Pluto. In response, Pluto bit his hand, which caused him to become enraged. He describes this anger as a supernatural possession, saying that he no longer recognized himself and felt an evil hatred fueled by alcohol coursing through his entire being (Poe 103). This incident marked a turning point in his mental state, as evidenced by his symbolic claim that his soul departed from his body, leaving him devoid of rationality.
The portrayal of demonic rage creates a perception of inhuman behavior. Poe effectively uses the narrator and their perspective to provide insight into the disturbed man’s psyche. By utilizing vivid imagery and symbolism, he enhances understanding of the protagonist’s motives. As a result, the narrator proceeds to use a penknife to remove one of the cat’s eyes. It is evident that this action contradicts rationality.
The deliberate choice of Edgar Allen Poe to have the narrator of his story be mentally unstable allows readers to understand the depths of his madness. Without insight into his thoughts, it would be challenging to grasp the extent of his delusions and disconnection from reality. While interpretations and debates may arise solely from the narrator’s actions, glimpsing into his thoughts reveals distorted perceptions of his surroundings. Even when the police search his house for his wife and ultimately find her in the cellar, the narrator remains devoid of nervousness or guilt for her murder. To fully comprehend the narrator’s insanity, we can rely on Poe’s firsthand depiction of emotions as exemplified by the line, “I quivered not a muscle. My heart beat calmly as one who slumbers in innocence” (107).
In this passage, Poe uses the narrator’s level of anxiety to draw a comparison to someone who is innocent and unaware, as if they are sleeping. It is peculiar that someone who has committed such a heinous act as murdering their own wife with an axe would not feel any guilt. This lack of remorse could only be explained if the person in question was mentally unstable or insane. Understanding the thoughts of the protagonist enables the reader to truly grasp the extent of his madness. Despite having killed his wife, the main character exhibits no remorse whatsoever, which serves as evidence of his madness. Poe effectively employs the point of view technique in order to communicate this absence of remorse and the resulting madness to readers.
The text is remarkable for the lack of remorse shown by the narrator, who is ill, towards the brutal killing of his wife. Instead, he feels a sense of exhilaration from outsmarting the police. “The glee at my heart was too strong to be restrained. I burned to say if but one word, by way of triumph, and to render doubly sure their assurance of my guiltlessness” (107). Poe also uses the term “guiltlessness” when describing the narrator’s thoughts. This clearly demonstrates his complete absence of regret for his terrible actions. Both the narrator and Poe intended to convey his madness to readers.
In order to make the story more captivating, Poe employs a mentally unstable narrator, offering a glimpse into the mind of a deranged murderer. Consider the alternative of having the story narrated by one of the policemen or a neighbor who witnessed the horrific killings.
The insight into the mentality and thought process of a madman is not the same when the narrator is not the madman themselves. The transformation of the narrator’s thoughts can be observed throughout the story, starting from someone with personal issues and eventually turning into a remorseless madman. The act of cutting out one of Pluto’s eyes is done while intoxicated, revealing that the madness within him is more apparent when under the influence of alcohol.
After waking up the next morning, the protagonist in the story begins to feel some remorse. The character reflects, “When reasoning had returned with the morning – when I had slept off the fumes of the night’s debauch – I experienced a sentiment half of horror, half of remorse, for the crime of which I had been guilty” (Poe 103).
However, even in this moment, it is evident that the narrator, who is recollecting and recounting the tale, is insane. Poe portrays the narrator expressing that he “had been guilty,” which implies that he no longer considers himself guilty. Only a deranged individual would believe they are no longer culpable for such a deed. Nevertheless, at this juncture in the story, the character experiences remorse and is not entirely consumed by madness. The point of no return for him occurs after he murders Pluto. Poe depicts the narrator’s act as something beyond forgiveness from the “Most Merciful and Most Terrible God” (104).
The main character’s thoughts demonstrate a profound self-condemnation, viewing himself as an utterly awful individual. He firmly believes that even God, with the power to pardon nearly anything, cannot grant him forgiveness for his deeds. This portrayal of the protagonist’s thoughts offers additional understanding into his troubled mental state.
The protagonist’s strong sense of remorse for killing the cat is evident in his belief that even God cannot forgive him for his actions. This demonstrates the character’s recognition of the wrong he has committed. Ultimately, this remorse contributes to his complete lack of empathy by the end of the story.
The story’s first-person narration provides profound understanding of the main character’s mind, revealing his insane thoughts directly to the reader. The point of view is crucial in delivering the story, progressively unveiling the main character’s innermost thoughts and emotions through Poe’s descriptive style. Consequently, this perspective captivates readers, creating a constant desire for further exploration of the deranged character. The eloquent portrayal of his thoughts and emotions incessantly engage readers’ attention.
