Use Of First Person Narration In Edgar Allen Poe's The Tell-Tale Heart

There are many famous works of Edgar Allen Poe, and one of the most recognized is “The Tell-Tale Heart”. The story is narrated in first person, with the narrator describing the events leading up to the murder of an old man whom he lived with. While doing this, the narrator attempts to convince the readers of his sanity by providing reasoning for his actions. Some themes in the story include human conscience, mental instability, paranoia, and the power of fear. First person narration is a popular tool used in literature to create a sense of intimacy and sympathy with the narrator. It allows for the readers to be more engaged, understand complex themes or characters, and give vivid descriptions from a first person point of view. First person narration can also be used to manipulate the reader’s interpretation of certain events, as subjectivity from the narrator can influence the overall perception of the story. In “The Tell-Tale Heart”, first person narration is used to construct a feeling of intimacy, create an ominous feeling, and better convey the themes of the story.

Throughout the story, the narrator repeatedly uses the terms “I” and “Me”, as if conversing with the readers, deepening the connection between them. We can see this in many instances, an example being “...But why will you say that I am mad?” (284). The narrator uses “you” like he knows he’s talking to the reader.The narrator shares his thoughts with the readers when he’s peeking at the old man every night, deeping the connection further. “Ha! Would a madman have been so wise as this” (284). Overall, compared to if the story was told from a third person perspective, first person narration creates a deeper bond between the narrator and the