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
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
