Characterization of the narrator

The narrator tells the story to prove he is not insane

The main character of the short story “The Tell-Tale Heart” by Edgar Allan Poe is an unnamed narrator. His name, age, or occupation are not mentioned in the story. We cannot even be certain of his gender, though we have chosen to assume that he is male because of his reference to madmen (p. 155, l. 3).

The narrator is convinced he is not insane and tries to prove it by explaining what he did and contrasting it with what he thinks madmen are like: 

“How, then, am I mad? Hearken! and observe how healthily -how calmly I can tell you the whole story” (p. 154, ll. 5-6); “Madmen know nothing. But you should have seen me. You should have seen how wisely I proceeded -with what caution -with what foresight -with what dissimulation I went to work!” (p. 155, ll. 3-6)

The narrator also claims he has heightened senses, especially a brilliant sense of hearing:​ “Above all was the sense of hearing acu...

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