The Black Cat

Having already read this story in the past I well knew that this was a typical Poe story. It is gruesome and graphic and also a great read. It is one of those stories that keeps the readers guessing and shocks them with something completely out of left field. This story also unlike "The Purloined Letter" was much easier to read and get interested in.

The story starts off somewhat on a good note and then goes slowly into the dark and twisted style of Poe. In the beginning the narrator describes his cat, Pluto which was once a huge part and love of his life. He describes his relationship with Pluto as a "friendship". Pluto got old and the narrator seemed to develop an alcohol problem. As the story develops the character becomes more and more ill tempered, angry and clearly has less external feelings towards his actions. He begins to abuse the animals that he and his wife possess. I found it disgusting that the narrator actually almost got joy out of torturing these animals. He was even driven so mad that he felt the need to kill these two cats that were significant to the story. In fact, when he killed his wife in pure madness, he felt no remorse whatsoever. The only feeling he has at all is how to cover the murder up. He does not feel guilty about the crime he committed. He does not worry that the police will catch him. He thinks that everything will just continue to be. When the murder is discovered he does not even seem worried. This is the epitome of karma and it almost seems that the narrator himself understands that. He had it coming. I think it was incredibly ironic that it was the cat in the end that gave the narrator away.