The Tell Tale Heart | Edgar Allan Poe | Cliff Note Books
“The Tell-Tale Heart” is a short story by Edgar Allan Poe, first published in 1843. The story is a psychological thriller told from the perspective of an unnamed narrator who insists on his sanity while describing the meticulous planning and execution of a murder.
In the story, the narrator is disturbed by an elderly man’s “vulture-like” eye, which evokes a sense of dread and fear within him. He becomes obsessed with this eye and decides to kill the old man to be rid of it. Over a week, the narrator carefully executes his plan, visiting the old man’s bedroom each night at midnight to observe him. On the eighth night, the narrator’s movement awakens the old man. Hearing the old man’s terrified heartbeat, the narrator is convinced that his own fear and guilt will be heard by the neighbors, so he kills the old man, dismembers the body, and hides the pieces beneath the floorboards.
When the police arrive in response to a neighbor’s report of a scream, the narrator confidently invites them in, believing he has left no evidence of the crime. He even brings them to the old man’s room and sits directly above the hidden remains, boasting about his cleverness. However, as they chat casually, he starts to hear a noise, which he believes is the beating of the old man’s heart from beneath the floorboards. As the noise grows louder and more persistent in his mind, the narrator becomes increasingly agitated and paranoid. The sound, embodying his guilt, drives him to a state of madness.
Unable to bear his guilt and the “tell-tale heart” of his victim, he confesses to the police, exclaiming, “I admit the deed! Tear up the planks! Here, here! It is the beating of his hideous heart!”
The story is a striking exploration of guilt, madness, and the consequences of trying to rid oneself of perceived evil. The enduring heartbeat symbolizes the power of a guilty conscience and the inevitability of confession.
QUOTES FROM THE TELL TALE HEART
“True! —nervous —very, very dreadfully nervous I had been and am; but why will you say that I am mad?”
“He had the eye of a vulture—a pale blue eye, with a film over it. Whenever it fell upon me, my blood ran cold.”
“And every night, about midnight, I turned the latch of his door and opened it—oh so gently!”
“You fancy me mad. Madmen know nothing. But you should have seen me. You should have seen how wisely I proceeded…”
“And now a new anxiety seized me — the sound would be heard by a neighbour!”
“I then replaced the boards so cleverly, so cunningly, that no human eye—not even his—could have detected anything wrong.”
“I smiled,—for what had I to fear? I bade the gentlemen welcome.”
“And still the men chatted pleasantly, and smiled. Was it possible they heard not?”
“No doubt I now grew VERY pale;—but I talked more fluently, and with a heightened voice.”
“I felt that I must scream or die! — and now — again! — hark! louder! louder! louder! LOUDER!—’Villains!’ I shrieked, ‘dissemble no more! I admit the deed! Tear up the planks! Here, here! It is the beating of his hideous heart!'”
BIOGRAPHY OF EDGAR ALLAN POE
Edgar Allan Poe was an American writer, editor, and literary critic born on January 19, 1809, in Boston, Massachusetts. Known for his tales of mystery and the macabre, Poe is considered a central figure of Romanticism in the United States, and he is credited with contributing to the emerging genre of science fiction. He was also the first well-known American writer to try to earn a living through writing alone, resulting in a financially difficult life and career.
Poe’s parents were professional actors who died before he turned three, and he was taken in by John Allan, a wealthy tobacco exporter in Richmond, Virginia, thus giving Poe the name “Allan”. Despite John Allan’s wealth, he was raised in a strained environment due to conflicts with his foster father, who refused to pay for his higher education. Poe attended the University of Virginia for one semester but left due to lack of money.
Poe’s career as a writer began in 1827, but it wasn’t until 1835 that his professional life began to take shape. Poe, then 26, obtained a license to marry his 13-year-old cousin Virginia Clemm and was also offered an editorial position at the Southern Literary Messenger in Richmond. During his two years at the Messenger, Poe honed his skills as a fiction writer and a critic.
His most productive years were from the late 1830s to the late 1840s. During this time, he published some of his most famous works, including “The Fall of the House of Usher,” “The Murders in the Rue Morgue,” “The Masque of the Red Death,” “The Tell-Tale Heart,” “The Pit and the Pendulum,” and “The Raven.”
Poe’s personal life was fraught with struggles and hardships. His wife, Virginia, died of tuberculosis in 1847, which affected him deeply and had a profound impact on his writing. Poe himself died under mysterious circumstances in Baltimore on October 7, 1849. He was found in a state of delirium, wearing clothes that were not his own, and he died four days later. The exact cause of his death remains unknown.
Poe’s work has had a significant influence on literature around the world, and he is widely regarded as a master of the short story genre, particularly in the realms of horror and mystery. His innovative approach to literature, in both his prose and his poetry, continues to inspire writers to this day.
CRITICISMS OF THE TELL TALE HEART
“The Tell-Tale Heart” is widely regarded as a masterpiece of psychological horror, but as with all works of art, it has also faced criticism. Here are some of the common criticisms associated with this story:
Lack of Character Development: Some critics argue that the characters in the story are not fully developed, especially the old man. We learn almost nothing about him, except for the fact that he has a disturbing eye that obsesses the narrator.
Graphic Violence: The story has been criticized for its graphic depiction of violence. The narrator describes in chilling detail how he murders the old man and dismembers his body.
Implausibility: Some readers find the narrator’s behavior and the course of events implausible. The idea that guilt alone could drive someone to confess such a horrific crime, for instance, strikes some as an overly dramatic and unrealistic depiction of human psychology.
Misrepresentation of Mental Illness: Some contemporary readers and critics have criticized the story for potentially perpetuating harmful stereotypes about mental illness. The narrator is portrayed as deranged and violent, which contributes to the stigmatization and misunderstanding of mental health conditions. However, it’s important to note that such criticisms should take into account the time period in which the story was written, when understanding of mental health was far more limited.
Despite these criticisms, “The Tell-Tale Heart” remains a significant and widely studied work in the genre of horror and gothic literature, appreciated for its suspenseful narration, psychological depth, and exploration of guilt and sanity.
DISCUSSION POINT FOR THE TELL TALE HEART
“The Tell-Tale Heart” offers a plethora of points for discussion, given its rich exploration of themes like guilt, sanity, and fear. Here are some potential discussion points:
Narrator’s Sanity: The narrator insists he’s not mad but provides a detailed account of his gruesome actions. Discuss the disparity between the narrator’s perception of himself and the reader’s perception.
Symbolism: The “vulture-like” eye and the beating heart are potent symbols in the story. Explore their symbolic meanings, and discuss how they contribute to the story’s themes.
Role of Guilt: How does guilt manifest in the story? Discuss the connection between guilt and the narrator’s ultimate confession.
Point of View: The story is told in the first person by an unreliable narrator. How does this affect the narrative and our perception of events?
Stylistic Elements: Poe’s use of suspense, repetition, and vivid imagery greatly contributes to the story’s horror. Discuss how these elements impact the overall mood and tone of the story.
Fear and Paranoia: The narrator’s actions seem to stem from fear and paranoia, rather than outright malice. Discuss the role of fear in driving his actions and its impact on the story.
Realism vs. Supernatural: Although most of the story feels realistic, the idea of the beating heart under the floorboards leans into the supernatural. Discuss the blending of these genres and how it affects the narrative.
Societal Perception of Mental Illness: Consider the story’s portrayal of mental illness. How might this reflect societal attitudes during Poe’s time, and how might contemporary readers interpret it differently?
Narrative Structure: The story has a unique structure – it begins in media res and uses flashback to narrate events. How does this structure contribute to the narrative tension and reader engagement?
Poe’s Influence on the Genre: Discuss Poe’s influence on the horror and mystery genres. How does “The Tell-Tale Heart” exemplify characteristics of these genres?
These points could lead to rich discussions about the text’s deeper meanings and its relevance in contemporary society.
CHARACTER IN THE TELL TALE HEART
Studying the characters in “The Tell-Tale Heart,” particularly the narrator, can offer intriguing insights into the themes and psychological depths of the story. Here are a few considerations:
The Narrator: As the central character, the unnamed narrator offers the most material for a character study.
Sanity and Insanity: The narrator insists on his sanity, yet his actions and the anxiety he experiences suggest otherwise. This dichotomy is a crucial aspect to study in his character. How does the narrator’s insistence on his sanity contrast with his thoughts, actions, and feelings? How does this contradiction deepen our understanding of his character?
Fear and Obsession: The narrator’s fear and obsession with the old man’s eye drive him to commit the murder. What do these fears and obsessions tell us about the narrator’s mental and emotional state?
Guilt and Paranoia: After the murder, the narrator seems guilt-ridden and paranoid, imagining the sound of the beating heart. How do guilt and paranoia manifest in his behavior, and how do they contribute to his eventual confession?
Reliability: As the narrator is also the storyteller, consider his reliability. Can we trust his account of events? How does his reliability (or lack thereof) affect our interpretation of the story?
The Old Man: The old man is the other key character in the story, although we know him only through the narrator’s perspective.
The Eye: The old man’s “vulture-like” eye is a central element of the story. Why is it the focus of the narrator’s obsession? What might it symbolize?
Victimhood: As the victim of a horrendous crime, what does the old man represent in the story? How does his victimhood underscore the horror of the narrator’s actions?
Absence of Voice: Unlike the narrator, the old man has no voice in the story. How does this absence of voice influence our perception of him and his relationship with the narrator?
Through these considerations, you can gain a more nuanced understanding of the characters in “The Tell-Tale Heart,” thereby deepening your comprehension of Poe’s narrative and themes.