In Edgar Allan Poe's "The Tell-Tale Heart," the narrator's point of view evolves through the story, especially by the end. At the beginning, the narrator insists on his sanity, describing how intensely he feels and rationalizing his actions. By the end, however, there are significant changes in his perspective.
Initially:
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Rationalization of Madness: The narrator believes he is sane, emphasizing his heightened senses, particularly of hearing. He is fixated on the old man's eye, which he describes as "vulture-like," leading to his decision to murder the old man. He feels justified in his actions and sees himself as clever for devising a plan.
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Pride in Deception: He takes pride in how he meticulously hides the body beneath the floorboards, showcasing his confidence and sense of control.
At the End:
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Paranoia and Guilt: As the story culminates, the narrator’s confidence unravels as he hears the auditory hallucination of the old man's heart beating under the floor. This sound becomes louder and more oppressive, reflecting his deteriorating mental state.
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Loss of Control: The climax reveals a stark contrast to his previous rationalizations. The pride he once held is replaced with overwhelming panic and terror as he can no longer distinguish between reality and his guilt-ridden perceptions. This leads to his confession to the police, suggesting that his sense of control has completely shattered.
Differences and Possible Causes:
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Psychological Breakdown: The primary difference is the shift from a confident assertion of sanity to a complete breakdown under the weight of guilt and paranoia. This change suggests that the mental strain of his actions was too great to bear.
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Conflict Between Guilt and Pride: Initially, his pride in committing the perfect crime clouds his judgment but leads to an internal conflict. At the end of the story, his guilt manifests as auditory hallucinations, leading him to confess. This highlights the theme that guilt is inescapable.
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Isolation and Desperation: The narrator's isolation—both physical and psychological—intensifies as the story progresses. The old man's eye symbolizes the narrator's internal fear and paranoia, culminating in a deep sense of desperation that drives him to confess.
Conclusion:
Overall, the shift in the narrator's point of view from confident murderer to tormented confessor illustrates the destructive power of guilt and the thin line between sanity and madness. The causes behind these differences can be attributed to psychological pressures, the weight of guilt, and the emotional turmoil that arises from his heinous actions. Poe masterfully captures the mental unraveling of the narrator, demonstrating how guilt can overpower reason and lead to inevitable confession.