One prominent theme in the passage from "The Tell-Tale Heart" is the struggle between sanity and madness. The narrator insists on his sanity despite admitting to being "nervous—very, very dreadfully nervous" and describes how his senses have sharpened, suggesting a paradox where heightened awareness could also indicate instability. Additionally, the obsession with the "vulture eye" highlights the theme of obsession leading to irrational behavior, as the narrator acknowledges he has no real motive to harm the old man, indicating that the eye itself, rather than any wrongdoing, drives him to madness.
The Tell Tale Heart
by Edgar Allen Poe
True!—nervous—very, very dreadfully nervous I had been and am; but why will you say that I am mad? The disease had sharpened my senses—not destroyed—not dulled them. Above all was the sense of hearing acute. I heard all things in the heaven and in the earth. I heard many things in hell. How, then, am I mad? Hearken! and observe how healthily—how calmly I can tell you the whole story.
It is impossible to say how first the idea entered my brain; but once conceived, it haunted me day and night. Object there was none. Passion there was none. I loved the old man. He had 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 this! He had the eye of a vulture—a pale blue eye, with a film over it. Whenever it fell upon me, my blood ran cold; and so by degrees—very gradually—I made up my mind to take the life of the old man, and thus rid myself of the eye forever.
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Question
Use the passage from “The Tell-Tale Heart” to answer the question.
In 3-5 sentences, determine one or more themes in the passage. Cite details from the passage to support your answer.
(4 points)
1 answer
1 answer