Do authors subconsciously reflect their defining characteristics in their work?  In Poe ’s story “The Black Cat”, an alcoholic slowly turns insane, eventually leading to the murder of his own wife. Poe ’s captivating use of the main character, symbols, and themes adds a dimension to his work that most authors lack.

            On that note, the main character of the story allows the reader to see from an insane person’s point of view. The narrator’s disturbing thoughts and actions completely set the mood by allowing the audience to experience first hand a mad mind. Without this insight, most would not fully understand how crazy the narrator actually was. As his mind slowly slips into insanity, he pulls the reader along with him. When the narrator cuts out the eye of his beloved cat, the reader similarly suffers “a sentiment half of horror, half of remorse, for the crime” along with the criminal. Then, as he plans to hide his deceased wife, the reader collaboratively comes up with the perfect plan and then clandestinely hopes for the success of the murderer. The first person experience of the narrator provides the reader with a perspective to the story that normally would be missed.

In addition, the application of simple symbols with vast meanings encourages the reader to examine the text multiple times. For example, the casual reader would not connect the house fire with the hellish symbol of the narrator’s punishment for hanging his cat. Also, the representation of the devil by alcohol gives a symbolic break to the usual literal understanding. Moreover, Poe reaches into the deeper symbolic meanings of guilt and knowledge. As the white splotch around the second cat’s neck turns into a noose before the narrator’s eyes, it emblematically represents the deep guilt trapped inside of him. In addition, the murder of his wife by “burying the axe in her brain”, instead of simply her head, represents the death of knowledge and logic within the narrator. With her death, he slips helplessly into madness. 

Finally, much can be learned from Poe ’s underlying themes of the story. Although not always obvious, the premises of Poe ’s work rips deeply into the human psyche and lays it in front of the reader. For example, the narrator believes that the cat “must have been thrown through the window into [his] chamber” by a spectator of his house fire to try to wake him. Although this makes no logical sense, humans feel the need to rationalize events that would otherwise seem mystical. Furthermore, the whole story is a seemingly needless confession, showing the narrator’s want for peace within himself by owning up to his crimes. Lastly, the main theme of inescapable guilt proves to be the most disturbing and pervasive. Despite countless drinks, the narrator’s guilt escalates until he is pushed to the point of insanity. Poe clearly demonstrates how detrimental guilt can be. His work exposes human nature and tendencies through his fundamental themes.

The expert usage of the main character, symbols, and themes allows Poe to take his audience through a profound and sometimes unsettling adventure. This often disturbing journey brings most readers as close to insanity as they will ever get. Perhaps Poe ’s realistic insight to madness derives from his own mental instability.