"The Tell-Tale Heart" is a short story by Edgar Allan Poe that features a few key characters, primarily centered around the narrator and the old man. Here are descriptions of the main characters:
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The Narrator: The unnamed protagonist of the story is both the main character and the unreliable narrator. He insists on his sanity, despite believing that he is plagued by an irrational obsession with the old man's eye, which he describes as a "vulture eye." His madness drives him to commit murder, and he becomes increasingly paranoid and guilt-ridden, leading to his eventual confession.
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The Old Man: The old man is another central character, though he remains unnamed throughout the story. He is described as having a pale blue eye that deeply disturbs the narrator, leading to his obsession. The old man is portrayed as vulnerable and helpless, particularly because he ultimately becomes the victim of the narrator's deranged actions. His character embodies the themes of fear and the consequences of irrationality.
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The Police Officers: While they are not central characters, a group of police officers plays a crucial role in the climax of the story. They arrive at the narrator's house to investigate after receiving a report of a scream. The officers are oblivious to the narrator's guilt, which amplifies the tension until the narrator's overwhelming guilt leads him to confess to the murder.
Overall, the story is fundamentally a psychological exploration of the mind of the narrator and his descent into madness, with the old man serving as the catalyst for his actions. The characters are not deeply fleshed out but instead serve as representatives of the themes of madness, guilt, and the nature of perception.