Essay On Psychoanalytic Criticism In The Tell Tale Heart

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Psychoanalytic Criticism Paper Psychoanalytic criticism is a term that is used to describe how and why a person behaves. There are two different types of psychoanalytic criticisms which were developed by Freud and Jung. Freud’s archetype’s are the most common in the “Tell Tale Heart”. Freud’s archetype’s are displayed throughout the “Tell Tale Heart” by how the narrator shows Id, which is the most dominant, as he kills the old man, Superego as he shows remorse, and planning to kill displaying ego. In the “Tell Tale Heart”, the Narrator displays the element Id which occurs as the narrator kills the old man. The definition of Id is the animalistic characteristic of a person that represents violence and acting on impulses. An example of Id in the “Tell Tale Heart” is how the narrator kills the old man: “and so, I finally decided I had to kill the old man and close that eye forever!”(Poe 64). This quote is an example of Id because the narrator is acting on the impulse of his hatred for the old man and his eye just like an animal …show more content…

Id is the most dominant archetype because everything in the “Tell Tale Heart” is because of how the narrator’s animalistic behavior began with the decision to murder the old man because he did not like the way the old man looked at him: “when the old man looked at me with his vulture eye a cold feeling went up and down my back; even my blood became cold. And so, I finally decided I had to kill the old man and close that eye forever!”(Poe 64-65). This proves that Id is the most dominant because Id is the main component on why the “Tell Tale Heart” is a good read. In conclusion, there are several different psychoanalytic criticisms throughout the “Tell Tale Heart”. The most common psychoanalytic criticism that is used is Freud’s technique. The archetype Id brings out the narrator’s animalistic tendencies, Ego which is used by planning, and Superego as he feels

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