Edgar Allan Poe Essay Introduction Example For Students

Edgar Allan Poe Essay Introduction What Goes Around Comes Around In his story The Black Cat, Edgar Allan Poe dramatizes his experience with madness, and challenges the readers suspension of disbelief by using imagery in describing the plotand characters. Poe uses foreshadowing to describe the scenes of sanity versus insanity. Hewrites for the most wild yet homely narrative which I am about to pen, I neither expect nor illicitbelief. Yet mad I am not- and surely do I not dream, alerts the reader about a forthcoming story thatwill test the boundaries of reality and fiction. The author asserts his belief of the activitiesdescribed in the story when he states to-morrow I die, and to-day I would unburden my soul(80). Poe describes his affectionate temperament of his character when he writes my tenderness of heart was even so conspicuous as to make me the jest of mycompanions(80). He also characterizes his animal friends as unselfish and their love as self-sacrificingillustrating to the readers his devotion to them for thei r companionship. The author usesforeshadowing in the statement we had birds, goldfish, a fine dog, a rabbit, a small monkey, and a cat(80). The use of italics hints to the reader of upcoming events about the cat that peaks interest andanticipation. Poe also describes a touch foreshadowing and suspension of disbelief when he illustrateshis wives response to the cat when he writes all black cats are witches in disguise, not thatshe was ever serious upon this point-and I mention the matter at all for no better reason than ithappened, just now, to be remembered(80). Poe expresses his early attachment to the cat and dramatizes the character changes he experiences when he writes our friendship lasted, in this manner, for several years,during which my general temperament and character-through instrumentality of the FiendIntemperance-had (I blush to confess it) experienced a radical alteration for the worse(81). He warns thereader of new events in a cynical tone and implies the beginning of the madness he denies. Poe firstillustrates this madness when he uses imagery to describe the brutal scene with the catwhen he writes I took from my waistcoat-pocket a pen knife, opened it, grasped the poor beast bythe throat, and deliberately cut one of its eyes from the socket! The author describes his emotional and physical state of being during the unthinkable act as I blush, I burn, I shudder, while I pen the damnable atrocity(81). He describes themorning aftereffect of his actions when he states when reason returned with the morning-when Ihad slept off the fumes of the nights debauch-I experienced a sentiment half of horror, half ofremorse, for the crime of which I had been guilty; but it was, at best, a feeble and equivocable feeling,and the soul remained untouched(81). Now Poe implies to the readers that he has truly crossedover into madness by brutally attacking the animal and feeling little or no remorse. Next Poe dramatizes his change in character even further when he writes and then came,as if to my final and irrevocable overthrow, the spirit of PERVERSENESS,(81) which once again alerts the reader of new eve nts so shocking that reading forward becomes anessentiality. The author illustrates a scene so outrageous that the reader has to go beyond thesuspension of disbelief they have agreed to participate in. He writes One morning, in cold blood, Islipped a noose about its neck and hung it to the limb of a tree;-hung it with tears streaming frommy eyes, and with the bitterest remorse at my heart;-hung it because I knew that it had loved me,and because I felt it had given me no reason of offense;-hung it because I knew that in so Iwas committing a sin-a deadly sin that would jeopardize my immortal soul as to place it-if sucha thing were possible- even beyond the reach of the Most Merciful and Most Terrible God(81-82). .u1163fcb8a29db8a277c276df4139fbd0 , .u1163fcb8a29db8a277c276df4139fbd0 .postImageUrl , .u1163fcb8a29db8a277c276df4139fbd0 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u1163fcb8a29db8a277c276df4139fbd0 , .u1163fcb8a29db8a277c276df4139fbd0:hover , .u1163fcb8a29db8a277c276df4139fbd0:visited , .u1163fcb8a29db8a277c276df4139fbd0:active { border:0!important; } .u1163fcb8a29db8a277c276df4139fbd0 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u1163fcb8a29db8a277c276df4139fbd0 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u1163fcb8a29db8a277c276df4139fbd0:active , .u1163fcb8a29db8a277c276df4139fbd0:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u1163fcb8a29db8a277c276df4139fbd0 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u1163fcb8a29db8a277c276df4139fbd0 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u1163fcb8a29db8a277c276df4139fbd0 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u1163fcb8a29db8a277c276df4139fbd0 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u1163fcb8a29db8a277c276df4139fbd0:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u1163fcb8a29db8a277c276df4139fbd0 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u1163fcb8a29db8a277c276df4139fbd0 .u1163fcb8a29db8a277c276df4139fbd0-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u1163fcb8a29db8a277c276df4139fbd0:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Describe A Person Who Has Significantly Effected You EssayNow the reader has crossed over the line of reality versus fiction. The author continues to illustrate the inconceivable story when he describes the scene after the fire that destroyedevery part of the house except the one wall that was still standing. Poe writes I approached andsaw, as if graven in bas-relief upon the white surface the figure of a gigantic cat and there was arope around the animals neck,(82) leading the readers to join the madness and believe thatthis was the same cat that Poe had savagely destroyed earlier that same day. The author describes his need to replace the animal in order to feel peace an d after doing so, he finds himself once again feeling a abhorrence toward the animal. He writes but gradually-very gradually- I came to look upon it with unutterable loathing, and to fleesilently from its odious presence, as from the breath of a pestance(83). Poe uses imagery todescribes his disgust with the cat when he states that like Pluto, it also had been deprived of one of its eyes,(83) he now wanted to destroy this animal as well. Poe illustrates the change ofcharacter he has experience since the beginning of the story only now he has gone beyond the madnessthat has consumed him many times. He writes evil thoughts becomes my sole intimates-thedarkest and most evil of thoughts(84). The author uses more imagery when he writes the final abominable act of evil. Poe confesses to the reader about the murder of his wife when he states goaded by theinterference into a rage more than demoniacal, I withdrew my arm from her grasp and buried the ax inher brain(84). He explains how he dis poses of the body in detail and describes the relief hefeels when he writes I soundly and tranquilly slept; aye, slept even with the burden of murderupon my soul(85). Poe informs the reader of his little remorse when he states my happiness wassupreme, and the guilt of my dark deed disturbed me but little(85). The author leads the reader to the final plateau of suspension when he dramatizes the conclusion of the story. He explains the sounds he heard in detail when the mysteryunfolds regarding the missing cat he had not seen or heard from since the murder. He writes likethe sobbing of a child, and then quickly swelling into one long, loud, and continuous scream,utterly anomalous and inhuman-a howl-a wailing shriek, half of horror and half of triumph, suchas might have arisen only out of hell, conjointly from the throats of the damned in their agony andthe demons that exult in the damnation(85). Poes use of descriptive details allows the readerto feel the horrifying experience of a ma n who believed he was free from the evil of madness. Poe ends the story after utilizing every inch of suspension of disbelief the reader can afford. Hesums up the plot of the story when he writes the hideous beast whose craft had seduced me intomurder, and whose informing voice had consigned me to the hangman, (85) implying that the cat hadinduced the same torture on him that he had brought on the first cat.