William Wilson appears what society deems "normal" in the beginning of the short story. He admits his faults in his "imaginative and easily excitable temperament" (pg. 66). He even begins his story by revealing remorse and shame for his past actions: "The fair page now lying before me need not be sullied with my real appellation," (pg. 66). These traits are those which characterize a "sane" mentality. The story goes on to describe the normal life of any boy away at school. Wilson gains the respect and admiration of others with his "ardor, enthusiasm and imperiousness" that are innate to popular and socially competent persons (pg. 70). However, when Wilson notices that there is one youth whom does not claim the admiration for Wilson as the others, Wilson becomes threatened. This Other person continually interferes with W

The narrator parallels Wilson in his insanity thus far: the difficulties with duality and suppressing emotions. However, the narrator is also insane because he mistakes his madness for genius. He gloats of his precise and patient nature during the situation. "It took me an hour to place my whole head within the opening so far that I could see him as he lay upon his bed. Ha! -would a madman have been so wise as this (pg. 193)?" The narrator also takes pride in his composed and serene manner after the killing: "If you think me mad, you will no longer when I describe the wise precautions I took for the concealment of the body," (pg. 195). The narrator exhibits other signs of insanity when he feels no remorse, shame or guilt. "As the bell sounded the hour, there came a knock at the street door. I went down to open it with a light heart,-for what had I now to fear (pg. 196)?" In fact, the narrator felt quite the opposite of shame and remorse; he was proud of his accomplishment and thought that although his actions of murdering the old man could be interpreted as insane, only a genius could have completed the killing as he had. His utter disregard for morality isolates him from society's definition of normal, and places him with the insane.

The narrator of the "Tell-Tale Heart" is mad in a similar manner as William Wilson. The narrator adores the old man with whom he lives with, but has a hard time tolerating the old man's cataract eye. "I loved the old man... For his gold I had no desire. I think it was eye! Yes, it was this! He had the eye of a vulture-a pale blue eye, with a film over it. Whenever it fell upon me, my blood ran cold," (pg. 193). Soon, the narrator premeditated the old man's death, but for several nights he could not accomplish the plan. "And this I did for seven long nights-every night just at midnight-but I found the eye always closed; and so it was impossible to do the work; for it was not the old man who vexed me, but his Evil Eye," (pg. 194). The narrator had the same problem Wilson had: he could not accept a duality. Wilson could not accept his conscious telling him what he was doing was wrong, and the narrator could not accept this kind old man having an "Evil Eye." It was in fact the old man's eye and the eye alone which provoked the narrator to kill him; but the narrator's increasing disgust and fear of the eye is not the only reason why he is insane.

ilson's life in an unwelcome manner. Although, Wilson admits t

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1670
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)