Friday, 11 July 2014

The Black Cat Reveals Character

The fury of a demon instantly possessed me. I knew myself no longer. My original soul seemed, at once, to take its flight from my body; and a more than fiendish malevolence, gin-nurtured, thrilled every fibre of my frame"(Poe,13).

This quote represents the start of a downward character spiral of the story narrator who describes himself as a very sane man who had a tender heart and was especially fond of animals. This occurs at a key moment in his evolution into a delusional madman, fueled by alcohol, just before cutting the eye out of his pet cat with a knife.  From there his insanity escalates while his guilt and remorse fade away, leaving him a character beyond forgiveness.  As anger and resentment continue to build, he kills the cat, and later his wife.  As you read what he calls a factual account of his deeds you realize that despite his claims, he is truly insane, no longer feeling guilt or remorse.  In fact, as he leads police to the basement where he hid his wife’s body, he shows confidence and satisfaction rather than of fear or regret, convinced he will not be found out.

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