Guilt depends on a person's self-conscious; if the mind cannot conquer self, it is weak. The "Tell-Tale Heart," by Edgar Allen Poe, reveals a madman's insanity. He pursues a scheme that will get rid of the problem that is bothering him; the old man's eye. When he is rid of the old man's eye, he also loses the disease that was inside him. The narrator hides his evidence of killing the old man, so the police won't suspect any disturbances in the household. But with their presence, his guilt could not take it no more. To get rid of his guilt that was eating him up inside, he had to release his tension, by telling the police of his evil deeds. Therefore, revealing his insanity.
.
"One of his eyes resembled that of a vulture-a pale blue eye .Whenever it fell upon me, my blood ran cold .I made up my mind to take the life of the old man, and thus rid myself of the eye forever (Poe)." This was the disease that the narrator had to get out of his system. This madman went insane over the old man's eye because he probably felt this eye was without a soul. He replied, "I heard many things in hell. How, then, am I mad?" Through this comment, I felt that was what was driving him insane. He knew this eye was of the devil's work and to get rid of this, he would never have to hear the voices out of hell, ever again.
" the terrors that distracted me I knew that what the old man felt, and pitied him, although I chuckled at heart (Poe)." This statement reveals another insane thought from the narrator. He reveals his feelings of the act he about to perform on the old man. He is terrified of his thoughts, just how the old man is petrified of that night. He knew he had to carry out the killing before it was too late. He needed a little courage to carry the deed. He stated "It was the beating of the old man's heart. It increased my fury, as the beating of a drum stimulates the soldiers into courage.".
.
