The theme of Edgar Allan Poe's "The Tell-Tale Heart" revolves around the concepts of madness, guilt, and the nature of reality.
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Madness: The narrator insists on their sanity while describing their intense obsession with the old man's eye, which they perceive as "vulture-like." This reflects the fine line between sanity and insanity, emphasizing how the narrator's mind becomes increasingly unstable.
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Guilt: After committing the murder, the narrator experiences overwhelming guilt that manifests in the form of the beating heart, symbolizing their conscience. This theme highlights how guilt can erode one's mental state, leading to self-destruction.
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Reality vs. Perception: The story delves into subjective reality. The narrator's perception of events is skewed, which raises questions about truth and the reliability of perception. The tension between what is real and what is perceived serves to create a sense of unease.
Overall, "The Tell-Tale Heart" intricately weaves these themes to explore the complexities of human psychology and the effects of guilt and madness.