Good Verses Evil in Day Verses Night
In Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Tell-Tale Heart,” (1843) the narrator explains his hatred for an old man’s eye and why he feels the need to kill him to rid himself of the eye. He tries to convince readers of his saneness but as the plot progresses, the readers realize how unreliable the narrator is in telling his story. The readers realize that he is, in fact, insane, despite the narrator denying any madness. He cites his calmness in recounting the story and precision in ridding himself of the eye to prove his sanity. Poe uses light and dark imagery in day and night to symbolize good and evil in the narrator’s mental instability; he appears sane during the day but as night falls, his insanity becomes obvious to the readers.
Throughout the day, the narrator seems normal and kind; he shows no evil intent. He begins by informing readers of his unnamed disease and how it has “sharpened [his] senses – not destroyed – not dulled them." While readers are unaware of any type of disease that would improve the senses, the narrator elaborates and discusses his acuity in hearing. The narrator attempts to convince readers that he is not mad, saying “I was never kinder to the old man than during the whole week before I killed him." He then goes on to explain how “every morning, when the day broke… [he] spoke courageously to [the old man], calling him by name in a hearty tone, and inquiring how he passed the night." His daytime psyche is so believable, he even convinced the police of his sanity, stating “the officers were satisfied. My manner had convinced them." However, the good in his psyche, only displayed during the daytime, considerably changes as the sun sets.
As night falls and darkness ensues, the narrator’s psyche takes a more evil turn. Readers are lead to believe that his kindness only occurs during the day because he explains that “every night, about midnight” he watches as the old man sleeps, plotting his death. The narrator’s attempts to prove his saneness verify his
Throughout the day, the narrator seems normal and kind; he shows no evil intent. He begins by informing readers of his unnamed disease and how it has “sharpened [his] senses – not destroyed – not dulled them." While readers are unaware of any type of disease that would improve the senses, the narrator elaborates and discusses his acuity in hearing. The narrator attempts to convince readers that he is not mad, saying “I was never kinder to the old man than during the whole week before I killed him." He then goes on to explain how “every morning, when the day broke… [he] spoke courageously to [the old man], calling him by name in a hearty tone, and inquiring how he passed the night." His daytime psyche is so believable, he even convinced the police of his sanity, stating “the officers were satisfied. My manner had convinced them." However, the good in his psyche, only displayed during the daytime, considerably changes as the sun sets.
As night falls and darkness ensues, the narrator’s psyche takes a more evil turn. Readers are lead to believe that his kindness only occurs during the day because he explains that “every night, about midnight” he watches as the old man sleeps, plotting his death. The narrator’s attempts to prove his saneness verify his