The Theme of Perversity in Edgar Allen Poe’s the Black Cat

The Theme of Perversity in Edgar Allen Poe’s The Black Cat ENG 201 American Literature to 1865 2/28/2012 The Black Cat is a tale that leaves the reader somewhat perplexed. It certainly contains all the ingredients necessary to satisfy the appetite of any Poe enthusiast - an enigmatic narrator, alcohol and the effects thereof, mutilation, strangulation, murder, putrefaction, and, last but not least, one of Poes slight (but recurring) obsessions, perversity - but we are left wondering whether the tale really amounts to anything much at all. One could almost split this short story into two halves: one that contains a couple of ideas worth considering; and another that simply indulges briefly in an unlikely plot before grinding to a†¦show more content†¦One day when the narrator and his wife are visiting the cellar in their new home, the cat gets under its maters feet, nearly tripping him. In a fury, the man grabs an axe and tried to kill the cat but is stopped by his wife and ends up killing her with the axe instead. Near the beginning of the tale, the narrator says he would be mad indeed if he should expect a reader to believe the story implying that he has already been accused of madness. This confession can be applied to the actions the narrator takes until and after he mistakenly murders his wife. During the process of proving that he is not mad, we increasingly see the actions of a madman who knows that he is going mad but who, at times, is able to objectively comment on the process of his increasing madness, Any sane human would most likely (hopefully) seek legal assistance and promptly report such a tragic accident. A reasonable person would understand that certain repercussions for their manslaughter would be necessary but far better than attempting to conceal the crime. The narrator in The Black Cat uses his more vicious judgment and decides to hide her body in the wall. After carefully removing enough bricks, placing the corpse in the empty space, and repairing the hole the narrator feels satisfied with his efforts. When the police come to inves tigate the disappearance, a fewShow MoreRelatedPsychoanalytic Analysis on the Black Cat649 Words   |  3 Pageson The Black Cat By Edgar Allan Poe First of all, let us go into the world of â€Å"The Black Cat† and delve into the inner workings of the dark side of the human mind. The Black Cat is a story that leaves the reader perplexed to some extent. It certainly contains all the ingredients necessary to satisfy the appetite of any Poe enthusiast – an enigmatic narrator, alcohol , mutilation, strangulation, murder, and, last but not least, one of Poes slight obsessions, perversity In the story