Edgar Allen Poe Analytical Essay

When looking at a piece of literature through a psychological approach it is easy to apply Sigmund Freud’s theories of the id, ego, and superego, which focus on conscious and unconscious behavior. When analyzing many of Poe’s works, critics tend to look through a psychological lens. Specifically in Poe’s The Black Cat. Some critics believe that Poe’s alcoholism is reflected in the piece, but many, such as James W. Gargano “advised the tales readers to avoid the biographical pitfall of seeing Poe and the first-person narrator of The Black Cat as ‘identical literary twins’” (Piacentino 1). It is due to his childhood that Poe’s narrator in The Black Cat subconsciously places animals before humans, thus leading to him to murder his wife. In reading The Black Cat the theories of Sigmund Freud are applicable. Freud’s theories sprout from the idea that unconscious events with in ones mind should be more heavily emphasized because most of ones actions are from this part of the mind, with out awareness. He believes that the mind works so most thoughts and emotions are buried beneath ones conscious thoughts (Guerin 123). Freud segregated the mind into three parts: the id, the ego, and the superego (Decker 2). The id is where ones aggressions and desires come from. It is there to please ones instincts with pleasure that has no regard for consequence. “The id as defined by Freud is identical in many respects to the Devil as defined by theologians.” If the id wasn't balanced with the ego, and super ego, the id would undoubtedly lead to destruction of ones self, and others (Guerin 125). When Poe’s narrator murders his cat, and later his wife, his id is not in balance with the ego and superego, thus allowing him to act upon impulse with out thinking. Because the id would wreak havoc amongst the mind it is necessary to have the ego and superego there to create a balance. The ego is the "rational governing agent of the psyche" (Guerin 126). It’s necessary to make sure the

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