Analysis of the Black Cat
...n the narrator, the narrator turns his love to hatred towards the cat. While drunk, the narrator is driven to the pure evil act of cutting out the cat’s eye and eventually killing it in his garden by hanging it from a tree. This act could symbolize the narrator’s and even Poe’s wish to put a stop to alcohol altogether. Unfortunately, like many alcoholics, the narrator is reminded of what he has done. The same day he kills his cat Pluto, his house is burned to the ground. The only thing standing is one wall with an image of his cat being hung. I believe Poe thought of this story while reminiscing about his own life. He may have made the decision at some point to stop drinking, thinking that his craving for alcohol would subside. Remaining sober for some time, he may have one day taken another drink, bringing the black cat to life. The narrator comes upon another black cat one night while he is intoxicated. The narrator believes this cat to be similar to Pluto, but not the same animal. This cat is however Pluto back to haunt him. The white patch on the cat’s chest is from the white plaster wall of his old house which was the only one standing. The cat also had one eye missing as Pluto did. Also the narrator chooses to not name, or at least to not reveal a name for the new cat. The narrator’s wife immediately takes a liking to the new animal. Since she represents the goodness of the narrator it shows he still has kind feelings towards animals and Pluto. As days go by he drinks and is constantly reminded of what he did to Pluto. The white patch on the chest of the cat fades, driving the narrator to insanity realizing he hates the new cat as much as the old one. It can be determined at this point that Poe realized his alcoholism was out of control again. The reappearance of the cat is obvious, but the narrator’s feelings of denial prevent him from seeing Pluto. When the narrator is in the basement with his wife, he finds the axe and thi...