How would you describe the character of the old man in "The Tell Tale Heart" by Edgar Allan Poe, based on the authors details.

Question

A. Cruel
B. Fearful
C. Unconcerned.
D. Unaware

Answer 1

In Edgar Allan Poe's "The Tell-Tale Heart," the old man is primarily characterized as B. Fearful. While he is also depicted as having some degree of fragility, the key aspect that stands out in the story is his fear, particularly regarding the narrator’s obsession with his eye. The old man's fear is palpable as the narrator describes how he can hear the old man's heartbeat growing louder as the narrator draws closer, which highlights his vulnerability and terror leading up to the climax of the story.