Monday, November 15, 2010

"The Tell-Tale Heart" is a story of madness and passion that depicts the darkness of human nature. Do you agree? Give maximum 10 reasons."The...

Madness and the dark side of human nature certainly seem
to be two of the major themes of Poe's classic short story. I've included some examples
below.


  • The murderer tries to explain to the
    reader that his careful plans are not a sign of madness, but his actions suggest
    otherwise.

  • The narrator claims to hear things that emit
    from unearthly sources.

  • The narrator claims that he has
    no specific reason to kill the old man other than his "vulture
    eye."

  • His careful preparation to kill the man in his
    sleep shows a dark side of the man's character.

  • The
    dismemberment of the body is a particularly gruesome task that could only have been
    carried out by a man filled with either mental instability or pure
    evil.

  • His belief that he can still hear the heart beating
    is further proof of madness. 

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Comment on the setting and character of "The Fall of the House of Usher."How does setting act as a character?

Excellent observation, as it identifies how the settings of Poe's stories reflect the characters of their protagonists. Whet...