Analysis of The Tell Tale Heart
The Tell Tale Heart is a story of mental conflict within the narrator. ... You should have seen how wisely I proceeded- with what caution, with what foresight, with what dissimulation I went to work" ("The Tell" 1)! ... For his gold I had no desire"("The Tell" 1).Poes tale is complete with strong foreshadowing, subtle irony, and vivid symbolism. ... I heard many things in hell"("The Tell" 1). ... Whenever it fell upon me, my blood ran cold; and so by degrees- very gradually - I made up my mind to take the life of the old man, and thus rid myself of the eye forever"("The Tell" 1). ... The irony in the story is in the second sentence of the first paragraph; the narrator says, "The disease had sharpened my senses- not destroyed, not dulled them"("The Tell" 1) This is ironic, because he believed that his insanity was an asset to his situation, when really it brought about his downfall. ... The narrator believed that the sound was the beating of the old mans heart, but it was actually his own heartbeat, signifying his fear of being caught, and his guilty conscience tormenting him for killing the old man.