Insanity is a common quality among Edgar Allen Poe’s narrators, however you can’t always tell if their stories are true because they’re all insane. In William Wilson, The Black Cat and The Raven the narrators are all unreliable as they only tell the stories they believe to be true. It is up to the reader to figure out which parts of these stories are real. You can tell which parts of the stories are untrue by the sheer amount of coincidences that occur. In William Wilson, the narrator meets another scholar who with “...no relation, bore the same Christian and surname as myself (Wilson)...”, and is “... of the same age… the same height … and we [the narrator and the other William Wilson] were even singularly alike in general contour of person …show more content…
and outline of feature” (Poe, William Wilson). Though the chances of meeting someone exactly like you seem astronomical, the narrator is telling the truth this time as “...he (the other William Wilson) observed it (the fact that they were so alike) in all its bearings, and as fixedly as I, was apparent” (Poe, William Wilson). However, the coincidences become more apparent later on in the story. After Wilson leaves the school, he sees the other William Wilson two more times. However, it is debateable if it is actually the Wilson he knew in school. The first time is when the narrator is out playing cards. Wilson is cheating--and about to get away with it too--when a man walks in and informs the other men “...in a low, distinct, and never-to-be-forgotten whisper (the other Wilson’s trademark)...” that our narrator is cheating (Poe, William Wilson). However, it could be another man that the narrator sees as the other Wilson because the odds of meeting his doppelganger again at a random university are very slim. This is the point where the narrator’s reliability becomes doubtful. Wilson’s unreliability is confirmed when he meets the other Wilson again for the last time.
After seeing Wilson, and then eventually killing him, the narrator states, “It was Wilson ; but he spoke no longer in a whisper, and I could have fancied that I myself was speaking while he said : ‘ You have conquered, and I yield. Yet henceforward art thou also dead --dead to the World, to Heaven, and to Hope! In me didst thou exist-- and, in my death, see by this image, which is thine own, how utterly thou hast murdered thyself. ’”, which lets the reader know that he has gone completely insane, and therefore unreliable (Poe, William Wilson). First of all, not only is he personifying a dead person, but he truly believes that the other Wilson is him and he is the other Wilson. Obviously the narrator hasn’t killed himself in killing the other Wilson--if that even was the other Wilson--and therefore he’s unreliable be cause he doesn’t tell the true story, only what he believes to be …show more content…
true. The same could be said for the narrator of The Black Cat. Though at the beginning of the story he is “especially fond of animals”, animals are what eventually make his mind deteriorate (Poe, The Black Cat). After pity-killing a cat, the narrator begins to see things such as “...the figure of a gigantic cat [on the wall]. The impression was given with an accuracy truly marvelous. There was a rope about the animal’s neck [the narrator hanged the cat]” (Poe, The Black Cat). Then, the narrator begins to believe that his new cat has a rope-like shape around his neck which gets larger everyday, only adding to his “absolute dread of the beast” (Poe, The Black Cat). It’s very unlikely that either of these visions are actually true, which makes the narrator seemingly unreliable. The possibility of the narrator being a psychopath also adds to his unreliability. After killing his wife, the narrator “... soundly and tranquility slept ; aye, slept even with the burden of murder upon his [my] soul”, showing no remorse, just like a psychopath (Poe, The Black Cat). The narrator’s questionable state of mental health contributes to the fact that he is unreliable, just as in William Wilson. The narrator’s mental state in The Raven also makes him unreliable.
Already overcome with grief for his lost love Lenore, a raven flying into the narrator’s study only makes the narrator worse. The narrator keeps repeating phrases such as, “ ’Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door-- Some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door…”, and it appears as if he’s trying to convince himself of reality and what’s going on outside of his head (Poe, The Raven). Then after the raven enters, he proceeds to have a whole conversation with it, and he seems to be taking it to the heart, while the raven is only saying the word nevermore every time the narrator stops talking. The narrator’s mind exaggerates the encounter with the raven , to the point where he truly believes that the raven understood him. Because of this, the narrator of The Raven is also
unreliable. The narrators of William Wilson, The Black Cat, and The Raven are all unreliable as their stories/poems are influenced by their poor mental state. However, the mystery of which parts of the story are real, and which are imagined is interesting to think about.
In the beginning of the poem the narrator recognizes the raven only speaks the word “nevermore”, nevertheless he continues to ask the raven questions. The narrator knows hearing “nevermore” as the answer to his questions will cause his own demise, but it doesn't prevent him from doing so. The narrator asks “Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe and forget this lost Lenore!” Quoth the Raven “Nevermore””( Poe 13). By this he asks if, he will ever forget the memories of Lenore that continue to run through his mind, the raven confirms he won't. He is angered by this response and questions the ravens true intention. As if the raven’s answer to his question didn't upset him enough he continues to ask deeper questions. With hope that he will receive a different answer he ponders “Is there- balm in Gilead?- tell me. I implore! Quoth the Raven “Nevermore”” (Poe 14). Here the narrator is asking if he will ever be joyful again, once again he is doing this knowing the raven respond the same answer everytime. He actually believes what the raven is saying, which is driving him insane for this reason he’s causing his own demise. To make matters worse the narrator asks if “within the distant Aidenn, It shall clasp Clasp a sainted maiden whom the angels name Lenore” (Poe 15). He is inquiring if Lenore is in heaven, receiving no as an answer was his breaking point. Everyone definitely wants to hear the ones they love are in heaven, so why would the narrator ask the raven knowing the answer would be no? This proves the narrator is responsible for his own demise, not the
Throughout the short story, the manifestation of the narrator’s conscience as the second Wilson is never known until the end, and thus, is never understood as just another example of Poe’s consistent concretization, until the conclusion; as such, Poe infuses the transformation of other abstract ideas into physicality within the text to tease and elucidate the complex notion of a non-existent second Wilson. The externalization of the narrator’s perplexing internal struggle justifies Poe’s serious and outwardly grandiose style that creates both scenes of metaphorical and actual physicality. Simulating the roller-coaster like journey of self-doubt the narrator experiences, the short story and its meticulously written rhetoric teases the readers with possible knowledge of the second Wilson’s identity without complete certainty, but then hits them with an epiphany, like the one the narrator experiences, about the doppelganger's true identity. In order to understand “William Wilson”, one must not evaluate single excerpts, but the work as a whole, as a dynamic confession by the narrator; only by understanding the conclusion and recognizing its complexity, can one truly appreciate Poe’s mastery which stems from his ability to introduce both the themes and conclusion of the story to the reader
Poe's narrator sees that he is a Master with good powers of observation.” There are some psychological issues with the narrator, there are instances where the narrator tells the reader if they think he is a mad man. “Why will you say I am mad” (Poe) the narrator is empathizing that as the reader, they are the ones who are wrong. The narrator believes that he is right; therefore, the heart beating and the eye watching him proves to him that he is not psychotic. While as the reader, they know that him murdering an innocent old man based upon his eye is in fact
Edgar Allen Poe’s poem, "The Raven" starts off in a dark setting with an apartment on a "bleak December" night. The reader meets an agonized man sifting through his books while mourning over the premature death of a woman named Lenore. When the character is introduced to the raven he asks about Lenore and the chance in afterlife in which the bird replies “nevermore” which confirms his worst fears. This piece by Edgar Allen Poe is unparalleled; his poem’s theme is not predictable, it leads to a bitter negative ending and is surrounded by pain. To set this tone, Poe uses devices such as the repetition of "nevermore" to emphasize the meaning of the word to the overall theme; he also sets a dramatic tone that shows the character going from weary
Poe recurred to Personification to give human qualities to the raven. The main example is the ability of the raven to talk and Poe ilustarte it "as if his soul in that one word he did outpour"(932). Ravnes are uncapable of talking from their soul because usually people believe that only human beings have a souls, so giving the raven a soul is a use of personification. Also, the raven demostrated "mien of lord or lady"(932). Mien is a human quality of showing your mood through a look or a manner. Through history, ravens have had negative connotation. They are seen as a "thing of evil!" (933). Now, everyone knows that birds are capable of emitting sounds, but they cannot talk in a meaningful way. However, the unnamed narrator hear the raven saying the word nevermore constantly. This could mean two things. Firstly, it was just a normal response because he was "weak and weary" (931), or secondly, he had a mental illness that causes him to hear voices. Either way, it seems like his subconscious was trying to tell him something through the raven. In his case was the word nevermore. Consequently, the raven was a constant reminder that he will never see Lenore
In conclusion, Poe shows the insanity of the narrator through the claims of the narrator as to why he is not insane, the actions of the narrator bring out the narrative irony of the story, and the character of the narrator fits the definition of insanity as it applies to "The Tell Tale Heart". The "Tell Tale Heart" is a story about how insanity can overtake someone's mind and cause one to behave irrationally.
Whenever the narrator questions the Raven on when his deceased love will return, or when he will stop grieving, the Raven responds with the repeated word “Nevermore” (Poe 102). The bird’s incessant reminders signify that since Lenore’s death is eternal, the narrator’s consequent anguish from it must be as well, which is why the narrator is incapable to ever recover from the Raven’s words on his loss. For, this leaves an everlasting impression on the narrator, prompting him to demand the bird, “‘Take thy beak out of my heart’” (Poe 101). In this metaphor, the author alludes that the Raven’s ‘beak’ is the words it is saying to the narrator, and the ‘heart’ is not representative of the narrator’s physical heart, because the bird is not physically attacking the speaker, but is making him aware of his eternal loss and irreversibly breaking him down emotionally. Therefore, Poe’s use of repetition and metaphor aid him in expressing the loss induced anguish of the
Image a family. Now imagine the parents divorcing and never see the father again. Then imagine the mother dying and leaving three kids behind. All of which get taken in by someone. The two year old is given to a family, with a loving mother and caring father. Edgar Alan Poe did not have to imagine this, this was his childhood. Poe’s difficult youth was a heavy contributor to his perspective that pain is beautiful. Poe illustrates many things in “The Raven”, one of his most well-known pieces. “The Raven” is about a depressed man who lost his lover Lenore. The speaker states “’Tis the wind and nothing more!” (Line 36) in his delusional state to help himself cope with his loss. In “The Raven” Poe uses irony and complex diction. This helps Poe create his theme of the human tendency to lie to one self to feel better.
“William Wilson” is many of Edgar Allen Poe’s short stories as well as the “Black Cat”. Both of these two famous short stories are very similar in many of ways but can also be different. These two stories both portray figures of evil and self-loathing but have different ways of showing examples of each. “William Wilson” is a story about a boy who finds himself an enemy at a young age but later comes to find out that it was himself who was the enemy all along. The “Black Cat” is a short story about a guy who is not the best man and is practically insane.
In this story, like the others, the rather ordinary narrator descends into madness and makes expectations break and fear form. The raven itself actually contributes to fear as well. The raven does not change at all as it only stands still and repeats, “Nevermore,” to the narrator.
“The Raven” is a very great poem that has many literary devices and has great meaning. Edgar Allan Poe wrote many poems but “The Raven” is probably his most famous poem. “The Raven” was chosen because in 4th grade my teacher read it to the class and since then it has had a lot of meaning. This poem is about a ”rapping at my chamber door” and then he realizes a raven causes the rapping on his chamber door. The raven is always saying “Nevermore” and then he goes so crazy he kills himself. He dies because the speaker says “And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor/ Shall be lifted- nevermore!” “The Raven” contains many literary devices such as symbolism, metaphors, sensory images, and personification. The raven symbolizes the character conscious. A metaphor in “The Raven” is the raven being a “a thing of evil” which is represented throughout the poem.
Does the narrator show weakness through this mental illness or is it a sophistical mind of a genius? This is the question that must be answered here. Throughout this discussion we will prove that the narrator is a man of a conscience mind and committed the crime of murder. Along with that we will expose Poe’s true significance of writing this short story, and how people were getting away with crime by justifying that they were insane.
A common theme that is seen throughout many of Edgar Allan Poe’s text, is madness. Madness that will make the whole world turn upside down and around again. Madness that takes over somebody’s life. Madness and eye imagery is present in both “The Black Cat” and “The Tell Tale Heart” by Poe where madness is at first a fairy tale but then ends with a crash back to reality.Both stories share components of murder and insanity, and are very similar, not at first glance but if looked at more closely.
The Raven was very mysterious and suspicious. The Raven showed up out of nowhere. The narrator questioned why the Raven came upon him but oddly he tried speaking to the Raven. Its only word is "nevermore". The Raven has a very short vocabulary. The narrator is grieving but the Raven does not tell him anything else but "Nevermoore".The Narrator is very angry and is going insane because of the loss of his wife Lenore. The narrator is being separated from sanity and reality. The narrator wants the Raven gone. The narrator expects to see Lenore when the Raven is gone. The narrator thinks that he will see Lenore in the past life but he is wrong. The narrator goes insane and wanders how he will ever get over the loss of his Lenore or when the narrator will see Lenore again. In Alfred Hitchcocks The Birds when Lydia experiences the loss of her husband. Lydia becomes bitter and very angry and seems to loose her mind. It is the reason why Lydia is scared of losing Mitch because Lydia does not want to feel abandoned. In both stories Edgar All Poe The Raven symbolizes fear and loss. Alfred Hitchcock The Birds represents shock and fear. It cause suspense because we do not think to talk to birds or have them attack with malice. Even though the Edgar Allen Poe and Alfred Hitchcock use time and distance in similar ways, they build suspense
Edgar Allan Poe tells the story of a bereaved man who is grieving for his lost love in the poem, “The Raven.” During a dark and gloomy night, the man hears a knock at his door. Hoping that it is Lenore, his dead lover, coming back to him, he goes to open the door. Unfortunately, he is only met with emptiness and disappointment. Shortly after, a raven flies into the room through the window and lands on the bust of Pallas. The man begins to converse with this dark and mysterious bird. In response to everything the man says, the raven repeats one dreadful word: “Nevermore.” The symbolism of the raven being connected to death, and the man’s interaction with the dark bird reveals to readers that he is going through the stages of dying. Subsequently, the repetition of the bird’s one worded reply makes it known that the man will never see Lenore again because there is no afterlife.