In Edgar Allan Poe's "The Tell-Tale Heart," the beating heart serves as a powerful symbol of guilt and conscience. Throughout the story, the narrator is haunted by the sound of the heart after committing murder. Initially, the heart represents the narrator's anxiety and paranoia, reflecting his mental instability. As the story progresses, the relentless beating grows louder, culminating in his confession to the crime.
The heart signifies the inescapable nature of guilt; no matter how much he tries to suppress it, the narrator cannot escape his actions. It symbolizes his internal struggle and the idea that one cannot entirely evade moral responsibility. Ultimately, the beating heart serves as a manifestation of the narrator's profound psychological torment, illustrating the theme of guilt as a force that can lead to one's downfall.