A Tell Tale Heart, the Man Is Insane

I strongly believe that the caretaker/narrator of Edgar Allen Poe’s A Tell Tale Heart is insane for he killed the old man he was taking care of. One reason why the narrator is a bit wrong in the mind is that he took so much pride in planning and executing the murder. For 7 days and nights he would go the old man’s room, spend an hour just putting his head in door, to spy on him. When the police came shortly after the deed was done, the narrator showed them gleefully around the house, saying that old man not dead. “Would a madman have been so wise as this?” (A Tell Tale Heart) I believe that a madman could, since no sane man would lead to police to inches away from where the body lay. The caretaker is mad because he starts to hear voices during the story. After he hides the old man’s body, the caretaker starts to think he hears the man’s heartbeat growing louder and louder. “My head ached, and I fancied a ringing in my ears; but still they sat, and still chatted. The ringing became more distinct : I talked more freely to get rid of the feeling: but it continued and gained definitiveness” (A Tell Tale Heart) The guilt caused him to hear voices and become more insane than before, and also it caused him to confess- something a sane person would not do. Lastly, the caretaker killed the old man because he was disliked the look of the old, filmed over, pale blue eye. Even though old man never did anything that would offend the caretaker, but he killed him anyway. “I love the old man. He never wronged me. He had never given me insult. For his gold I had no desire. I think it was his eye! yes it was!” (A Tell Tale Heart) I think it is pycho to kill someone you like just because you don’t like their face! The narrator/caretaker in A Tell Tale Heart by Edgar Allen Poe is insane because he is responsible for the murder of his caretakee. He takes pride in the murder, hears voices after the murder, and repeatedly says he’s sane.

A Tell Tale Heart, by Edgar Allen