Both stories are narrated through the distorted eyes of a ch

The Tell-Tale narrator, "in the wild audacity of [his] perfect triumph (p281)," sits directly over the floor planks under which the corpse of the old man lies. Sitting, chatting easily with the police, he begins to feel uneasy and eager for them to leave. Unable to pinpoint the source of his uneasiness, a ringing in his ears turns, in his mind, into the beating of the old man's heart. This sound, which excited him to "uncontrollable terror" before, now drives him into an uncontrollable fit of paranoia and to confession, as he shrieks, "I admit the deed! - tear up the planks! Here, here! - it is the beating of his hideous heart (p282)!"

The narrator of The Black Cat explains that his "disease grew upon (p321)" him. Although he equates his disease and resulting "ill temper (p321)" with his abuse of alcohol, his actions throughout the story are not those that are motivated solely by intoxication. If anything, the alcohol simply amplifies this sensual hypersensitivity to the level of his fellow narrator in The Tell-Tale Heart. The disease is based in their irrational fears of things that not only pose no real threat to them, but that they admit to having once felt love for.

Poe's formula for horror is apparent in these two stories. Each narrator functions similarly as a study in the dark and perverse human mind. While there are, of course, differences in the plots and specific characterizations of the narrators, parallels can be made on every level, through each event, in each story. Poe presents two figures, who confront fears in the most irrational and violent of ways, and in their attempts to rid themselves of these fears, they are trapped by their own madness.

Similarly, the Black Cat narrator shows no remorse when, all in one sentence, he announces the "hideous murder accomplished..." and moves on "...to the task of concealing the body (p327) of his dead wife. Calmly, he runs through scenarios in his mind of cremation, grave digging, or even sending the corpse as a package of merchandize out of the house. Finally, he settles on a plan much like that of the Tell-Tale narrator, but instead of concealment under the floor, he chooses concealment behind the cellar walls. He too, is pleased with his handiwork, as the "wall did not present the slightest appearance of having been disturbed (p327)." He congratulates himself "triumphantly" and his "happiness [is] supreme! The guilt of [his]dark deed disturbed [him] but little (p328)."

Just as the narrator of The Tell-Tale Heart presents his personal account of the events in the story as healthy and calm, the Black Cat narrator presents "plainly, succinctly, and without comment, a series of mere household events (p320)." Although he hopes for "some intellect [that] may be found which will reduce [his] phantasm to the common-place," the Black Cat narrator still states, "mad am I not (p320)." This element of the supernatural is one in area where the two narrators diverge a bit. However, as the two stories progress, this difference is used as a balancing agent that allows the characterizations of the narrators to parallel one another within the action of their respective stories.

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Approximate Word count = 2132
Approximate Pages = 9 (250 words per page double spaced)