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Point of View and Narrator: "The Black Cat"
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Question
Which sentences provide evidence that the narrator may be unreliable?

Select each correct answer.

response - correct
Responses

Mad indeed would I be to expect it, in a case where my very senses reject their own evidence.

Mad indeed would I be to expect it, in a case where my very senses reject their own evidence. - correct

Hereafter, perhaps, some intellect may be found which will reduce my phantasm to the common-place—some intellect more calm, more logical, and far less excitable than my own, which will perceive, in the circumstances I detail with awe, nothing more than an ordinary succession of very natural causes and effects.

Hereafter, perhaps, some intellect may be found which will reduce my phantasm to the common-place—some intellect more calm, more logical, and far less excitable than my own, which will perceive, in the circumstances I detail with awe, nothing more than an ordinary succession of very natural causes and effects. - correct

My immediate purpose is to place before the world, plainly, succinctly, and without comment, a series of mere household events.

My immediate purpose is to place before the world, plainly, succinctly, and without comment, a series of mere household events. - no response given

From my infancy I was noted for the docility and humanity of my disposition. My tenderness of heart was even so conspicuous as to make me the jest of my companions.

From my infancy I was noted for the docility and humanity of my disposition. My tenderness of heart was even so conspicuous as to make me the jest of my companions. - no response given How would the story be different if it were told from a third-person point of view?

Answer 1

If "The Black Cat" were told from a third-person point of view, several significant changes could occur in the narrative:

1. **Objective Perspective**: A third-person narrator would provide a more objective view of the events, rather than the subjective and emotionally charged perspective of the first-person narrator. This could lead to a clearer understanding of the character’s motivations and actions without the biases and distortions of the narrator's mind.

2. **Multiple Characters' Insights**: The third-person point of view could allow access to the thoughts and feelings of other characters, such as the narrator's wife or the police. This could create a more rounded portrayal of the narrator's actions and the reactions of those around him, providing insights into their perspectives on his descent into madness.

3. **Enhanced Understanding of Themes**: With a more detached and analytical perspective, themes such as guilt, madness, and the nature of evil might be explored in greater depth. The reader could see how external societal views on morality and sanity contrast with the narrator's internal justifications.

4. **Reduction of Unreliability**: The third-person narrator's impartiality would reduce the unreliability associated with the first-person narrator. Readers might find it easier to discern the truth of the narrator's experiences and actions when viewed from a distance rather than being immersed in his troubled psyche.

5. **Narrative Tone and Style**: The tone of the story would likely change, potentially becoming less confessional and more analytical. This could impact the emotional weight of the story, as the intimate connection to the narrator's turmoil may be less pronounced without his direct voice.

Overall, telling "The Black Cat" from a third-person point of view could shift the emphasis from the intense psychological experience of the narrator to a broader commentary on human nature and the consequences of our actions.