This essay dives deep into the unsettling world of Edgar Allan Poe's short story, "The Black Cat." It explores the psychological unraveling of the unnamed narrator through his interactions with two black cats, Pluto and his successor. The analysis will delve into the following aspects of the story:...
Literary Analysis Essay – “The Black Cat” by Edgar Allan Poe
Name: Leia
Due date: March 21, 2024
, “The Black cat” by Edgar Allan Poe is a dark narrative about the destructive nature of
alcoholism and its cruel descend into madness. Happily married and animal enthusiast,
the narrator guides us into his content life all the way through his process of self-
destruction.
“To-morrow I die, and to-day I would unburthen my soul. “ (Poe, E. A, 1843)
At first, the protagonist is portrayed as a kind man and animal caretaker who
forms a strong bond with one of his pets, Pluto the cat. Quickly, as we discover more
about the narrator, we are met with the gospel that his temperament took a turn for the
worse and rapidly shifted from being a kindhearted man to someone who lacks morality
and control, due to his addiction. “I grew, day by day, more moody, more irritable, more
regardless of the feelings of others.” (Poe, E. A, 1843). This caused his unstable
behavior to go more than words could say; the one that once was a saint ends up
hurting everyone around him. At this point, Poe uses the narrators actions towards the
cat as a symbol of inferiority and innocence to represent the capacity of the narrator to
take advantage of the vulnerability of others. A sinister action towards those who cant
defend themselves, shows how progressed the narrators addiction and sickness has
gotten him.
With the arrival of a new cat to the story, Poe gives hope to the readers about the
narrators mental health. Is he getting better? Is he getting worse? The narrator infers
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller aliaavila1528. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $7.99. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.