Characters

The narrator is the protagonist of the story, and the narration follows his point of view. He is a developing character because his way of acting and thinking change throughout the story.

Outer characterisation

The narrator does not offer any details about his age, occupation, or outer appearance. However, it can be assumed that he is most likely in his early 30s because he had married young (l. 22) and the main events happen several years later (l. 34). He is probably middle-class or has a higher social standing, as he can afford to keep many pets, including exotic ones (l. 24), and employ servants (l. 80). He has enough means to get by even after he loses his house in a fire (ll. 174-175). He also appears to have received a good education, as he is knowledgeable about the way monks tortured people in the Middle Ages (l. 190).

The narrator states that he writes from a felon’s cell, therefore implying that he was arrested (l. 149).

Inner characterisation

A great part of the narrator’s inner characterisation comes from his self-reflection. The narrator reflects on the person he used to be and the person he has turned into, giving details and explanations about the evolution of his character from “docility and humanity” (l. 12) to irrevocable “Perverseness” (l. 62). He describes his change as follows:

I grew, day by day, more moody, more irritable, more regardless of the feelings of others. I suffered myself to use intemperate language to my wife. At length, I even offered her personal...