The Tell-Tale Heart, by Edgar Allen Poe, describes the acts of the guilty conscience. In the story, Poe describes the murder of an old man with a vulture-like "evil" eye. This murder, however, was unlike most in that it was extremely well-thought out. The madman used his methodical ways so he can defend his claim of non-insanity Each night the murderer would open the "evil"eyes door. On the first night, the door was opened just a smidge. Each night that followed, the narrator got more and more ambitous until finally the door would be fully open after a night of inching it open. "Upon the eighth night I was more than usually cautious in opening the door. A watch's minute hand moves more quickly than mine did. Never before that night had I felt the extent of my own powers-of my sagacity. I could scarely contain my feelings of triumph" (Poe 1). Obviously, the man is somehow deranged, if he feels power from slowly opening a door to scare someone. Perhaps he was drawn to kill by the man's evil eye that "vexed" him, but whatever the case may be the murderer smothered the man when his eye was wide open and his heart was beating fast. The man's feelings of fear were "all in vain; because Death, in approaching him had stalked with his black shadow before him, and enveloped the vitcim. And it was the mournful influence of the unperceived shadow that caused him to feel- although he neither saw nur heard- to fell the presence of my head within the room" (Poe 2). The murder had delcared "the old's man hour had come! With a loud yell, I threw open the lantern and leaped into the room. He shrieked once-once only. In an instant I dragged him to the floor, and pulled the heavy bed over him. I then smiled gaily, to find the deed so far done. But, for many minutes, the heart beat on with a muffled sound" (Poe 2). This heart would later cause his conscience to act against his evil mean and confess his guilt.
Later in story, the man realizes his guilty conscience is upon him. "I fancied a ringing in my ears; but still they sat and still chatted. The ringing became more distinct:--It continuned and became more distinct: I talked more freely to get ride of the feeling: but it continued and gained definiteness--until, at length, I found that the noise was not within my ears" (Poe 3). The noise was the sound of the man's beating heart and it resonated within his conscience. No act of reasoning can convince the man that his murderous acts were not wrongfully put into action.
The heart beat stronger and stronger until finally he could bear the beating no longer. He confessed his evil deeds to the police and shrieked, "Villians! Dissemble no more! I admit the deed!--tear up the planks! here, here! --It is the beating of his hideous heart!" (Poe 4).
The conscience is an tool to determine right from wrong. In our own lives, we are faced daily with choices between right and wrong. Sometimes, when we knowingly choose the bad option, our concscience comes back to haunt us. Even though the man could have sucessfully alluded police and been free for the rest of his life, his conscience was louder than his reason. Murder is never a option and his conscience knew that the man's deed, no matter how sickely twisted his mind had made the act, was in fact wrong and nothing could justify his cold-hard murder of the man with the "evil" eye.
Question: Have you ever commited a wrong and were haunted by your conscience?
Edgar Allan Poe was a very popular American writer and is still known today for his depressing tales of woe. Unfortunately, his most popular poem, "The Raven", is yet another sad American poem. This poem clearly defines romanticism in it's feelings of overpowering emotion, loss, and imagination. I recommend reading the poem to really get a true sense of the American romanticism movement because Poe's writing skills are highly impressive.
"The Raven", published by the American Review in February 1845, serves as a great milestone for American poetics. The story opens with a man recounting his relationship with a woman named Lenore. She is his "forgotten lore" (Poe 1). Suddenly, while in this state of depression and remembrance, the narrator hears a knocking at his door. He originally ignores the noise until the sound grows louder and moves to his window. When he went to open his window, a raven flew in. The narrator, amused by this random event, asks the bird it's name. The bird replies "Nevermore". The man begins to talk to the raven saying things such as, "Other friends have flown before- On the morrow he will leave me, as my hopes have flown before" (Poe 3). The raven simply replies, "Nevermore". The vocabulary of the raven includes only a single word- nevermore. As the man talks to the raven his mind wanders back to his lost love Lenore. He asks the raven if they will be together again in Heaven. He believes the raven to be sent from God to remove his anguish. The raven answers, "Nevermore". The narrator becomes furious with the bird because he feels as though his Lenore is forever lost and the Heavens have forsaken him. He commands the bird to leave, yet the bird never moves. The man feels as though he is trapped under the bird's depression of "nevermore" and will never be able to leave his dark shadow. The reader cannot help but feel pity for the man's condition.
The focus of anger in the poem is not reflected on the bird itself but on the answer of nevermore to certain emotional remarks. The narrator is in a state of depression and the bird's "nevermore" remarks are lowering his spirits. The romanticism movement's focus in America was on the profession of emotions. This poem is like a catharsis of emotions for the man. He wanted to be told by the bird that it would all be okay in the end, however the bird is "real" and tells the truth- the future is a broken and twisted path and not straight and perfect.
Question: Have you ever felt like the man? Ever asked someone their opinion in hopes of high praise and been torn down due to their response?
The story of Rip Van Winkle written by Washington Irving is utterly confusing upon first glance. His story builds a unique plot line that serves to confuse the reader. Following the twists and turns of this American short story is an adventure unto itself. The story opens with was Rip Van Winkle a lazy, unsuccessful Dutch colonist living in the colonial Kaatskills mountain area. He lived in pre-Revolutionary War times and didn't know of the oncoming threat of war. Although he so lazy, he is also well loved by all those in town. "I observed that he was a simple good natured man; he was moreover a kind neighbor, and an obedient, henpecked husband. Indeed, to the latter circumstance might be owing the meekness of spirit which gained him such universal popularity" (Irving 938). His wife was known as Dame Van Winkle and she ran a tight ship for her house and was constantly nagging Rip Van Winkle about his lack of drive for success. Rip had, "an insuperable aversion to all kinds of profitable labour" (Irving 938). Yet, "He would never even refuse to assit a neighbor in the roughest toil" (Irving 938). Although he was successful in his standings within the community, his home life was rocking and his farm was a failure.
To escape his wife's constant nagging, he would take up his gun and head into the woods. He would sometimes sit under a tree with his dog Wolf or at other times shoot game. On one particular day, he saw a man at the bottom of the mountains that needed help carrying a keg. As to not go against his helpful nature, Rip Van Winkle descended into the deep ditch of the mountains to help the man. Silently they carried this keg through the mountains. "During the whole time, Rip and his companion had labored on in silence; for though the former marveled greatly what could be the object of carrying a keg of liquor up this wild unknown mountain, yet there was something strange and incomprehensible about the unknown, that inspired awe, and checked familiarity" (Irving 941).
I think this last quote could not be more true and still relates to our lives today. Recently I was asked if I could choose to be a bird or a fish which would I choose. After thinking it through I chose to be a fish over a bird. For birds, they fly through clouds and all they can do is experience cloud after cloud, and although they reach an exciting destination- the journey is quite dull. However for a fish, they can experience many new species of fish and coral. They have the excitement of the unknown threat of a lurking shark. They can travel to the deepest parts of the ocean or skim the surface- there is so much more excitement in the journey. The familiarity of the clouds was boring, while the unknown of the ocean inspired an awe in my fishy self. The unknown, although slightly scary, always carries along the dazzling question of what exists in itself.
Rip Van Winkle and his keg carrying companion delivered the keg to a bar. Although the bar mates were happy, they showed no joy. Rip Van Winkle began to drink their liquor and soon fell into a sleep. When he awakes he is in a green field. His gun is rusting and his joints ache. Also his beard has grown a foot. "I'm not myself-I'm somebody else-that's me yonder-no that's somebody else, got into my shoes- I was myself last night, but I fell asleep on the mountain, and they've changed my gun, and everything's changed, and I'm changed, and I can't tell what's my name, or who I am" (Irving 945). Even though these changes are troubling, Rip Van Winkle returns to his town. His town has also completely changed. The buildings are broken down and King George III's portrait in the hall has been replaced with George Washington's. Rip Van Winkle soon learns that he had slept for twenty years and slept through the Revolutionary War. His son is all grown up and his wife and many friends have died.
Rip Van Winkle, after sleeping through the war, still did not change his lazy ways. He told his story and some believed him while others laughed at the tale. His life, although he never accomplished much of anything, lives on in the Kaatskills. In fact, when it rains the current resident refers to the thunder as the Hendrick Hudson crew (the crew that drank the carried keg).
Question: What was the significance of Rip Van Winkle's 20 year sleep and how does this reflect American literature?
