This paper will argue that the narrator in "Black Cat" by Edgar Allan Poe is a psychopath. Edgar Allen Poe is well-known for his short stories and his gothic style. He was born in 1809 in the USA and died in 1849. After studying languages at the University of Virginia he went to the army in the end of the 1820s and started to write short stories in the 1830s.
The narrator of "Black Cat" has been analyzed by different authors. Fisher, for instance, has the intention to figure out the motivation of Poe. His book analyses different short stories with diverse topics. For "Black Cat", he chooses a psychological view. This focus is close to the topic of that work. However, the analysis of Fisher is superficial, because he comes to the conclusion that the narrator is emotionally fragile, without giving a deep argumentation.
The most detailed work is given by Susan Amper and Harold Bloom. Different topics are analyzed; strategies for the interpretation of "Black Cat" were given and different approaches to understanding the narrator are mentioned. That means the story could be read supernatural, psychological or skeptical. Even so, the argumentation could be deeper. For this reason, the psychological analysis of the narrator with a psychological test could be seen as desideratum. Filling that gap, by analyzing him on a psychological way, is the main target of this work.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- 1 Introduction
- 2 Psychopathy
- 3 Analysis
- 4 Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
The main objective of this paper is to analyze the narrator in Edgar Allan Poe's "Black Cat" using the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R) to argue that he is a psychopath. The paper aims to fill a gap in existing literature, which offers superficial analyses of the narrator's motivations.
- Psychopathy as a diagnostic framework
- Analysis of the narrator's actions and behaviors through the lens of the PCL-R
- Examination of the narrator's lack of remorse, empathy, and manipulative behavior
- Exploring the narrator's shifting relationship with animals as a reflection of his psychopathic tendencies
- The reliability of retrospective narration in psychological analysis
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
1 Introduction: This chapter introduces Edgar Allan Poe and his short story "The Black Cat," highlighting existing literature on the narrator's character. It critiques previous analyses as superficial and announces the paper's central argument: that the narrator is a psychopath. The chapter establishes the need for a deeper psychological analysis using a standardized test, setting the stage for the subsequent chapters.
2 Psychopathy: This chapter tackles the complexities of defining psychopathy, noting the lack of a universally accepted definition and the varying characteristics used by different authors. It contrasts the definitions provided by Blackburn and Lykken, highlighting their limitations. Crucially, the chapter establishes the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R) as the framework for the analysis in the following chapter, explaining its structure, scoring system, and validity.
3 Analysis: This chapter delves into a detailed analysis of the narrator's behavior in "The Black Cat" using the PCL-R as a diagnostic tool. It systematically examines the narrator's actions—from his cruelty towards animals to the murder of his wife—through the four subcategories of the PCL-R: interpersonal characteristics, affective characteristics, lifestyle, and antisocial behavior. Each instance of the narrator's actions is meticulously examined, providing specific evidence and PCL-R scores to support the conclusion that the narrator demonstrates traits consistent with psychopathy.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Edgar Allan Poe, "The Black Cat," psychopathy, PCL-R, narrator analysis, character analysis, gothic literature, retrospective narration, lack of remorse, manipulation, antisocial behavior, animal cruelty, murder.
FAQ: Analysis of Psychopathy in Edgar Allan Poe's "The Black Cat"
What is the main objective of this paper?
The paper's primary goal is to analyze the narrator in Edgar Allan Poe's "The Black Cat" using the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R) to argue that he is a psychopath. It aims to provide a more in-depth analysis than previous studies, which the paper considers superficial.
What are the key themes explored in the paper?
Key themes include psychopathy as a diagnostic framework, analyzing the narrator's actions and behaviors through the PCL-R, examining his lack of remorse and empathy, exploring his relationship with animals as a reflection of his psychopathic tendencies, and assessing the reliability of retrospective narration in psychological analysis.
What is the structure of the paper?
The paper is structured into four chapters: an introduction, a chapter on psychopathy, an analytical chapter applying the PCL-R, and a conclusion. The introduction sets the stage, the second chapter defines psychopathy and introduces the PCL-R, the third chapter performs the analysis, and the final chapter summarizes the findings.
How does the paper define and utilize psychopathy?
The paper acknowledges the lack of a universally accepted definition of psychopathy and discusses different perspectives. It utilizes the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R) as its primary diagnostic framework, detailing its structure, scoring system, and validity to ensure a rigorous analysis.
What methodology is used to analyze the narrator?
The paper uses the PCL-R to systematically analyze the narrator's actions and behaviors in "The Black Cat." It examines the narrator's actions across four PCL-R subcategories: interpersonal characteristics, affective characteristics, lifestyle, and antisocial behavior, providing specific evidence and scores to support its conclusions.
What specific behaviors of the narrator are analyzed?
The analysis examines a range of behaviors, including the narrator's cruelty towards animals, his escalating violence, his murder of his wife, and his overall lack of remorse or empathy. Each instance is meticulously linked to specific criteria within the PCL-R.
What is the conclusion of the paper?
The paper concludes by arguing, based on the PCL-R analysis, that the narrator in "The Black Cat" displays characteristics consistent with psychopathy. The detailed analysis aims to support this conclusion through the systematic application of the diagnostic tool.
What are the keywords associated with this paper?
The keywords include: Edgar Allan Poe, "The Black Cat," psychopathy, PCL-R, narrator analysis, character analysis, gothic literature, retrospective narration, lack of remorse, manipulation, antisocial behavior, animal cruelty, and murder.
What is the significance of using retrospective narration in this analysis?
The paper acknowledges the challenges and limitations of using retrospective narration in psychological analysis, highlighting its potential impact on the reliability of the assessment. This acknowledges a crucial limitation in the methodology.
What is the contribution of this paper to existing literature?
This paper aims to fill a gap in the existing literature by providing a more rigorous and in-depth psychological analysis of the narrator in "The Black Cat," going beyond previous superficial interpretations and offering a more nuanced understanding of his character.
- Quote paper
- Christian Schwambach (Author), 2018, The narrator as a psychopath in Edgar Allan Poe’s "Black Cat", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/509056
