The Question of "Why?" in Edgar Allan Poe's "The Tell-Tale Heart" and "The Cask of Amontillado"

Both of these short stories revolve around a murder. I thought it was interesting how the motives were revealed in each story. The murderer's motives in "The Tell-Tale Heart" are more easily discerned than the murderer's motives in "The Cask of Amontillado."

In "The Tell-Tale Heart," the narrator tells the reader the explicit motive for murder. The narrator describes the old man's "Evil Eye." It is like "the eye of a vulture," "a pale blue eye, with a film over it" and it makes the narrator's blood run cold. It is this eye that the narrator says causes him to decide to kill the old man. This explicit motive for murder is again made clear by the narrator's process of planning the murder. He enters the old man's room seven days consecutively, but each time, the old man's eyes stay closed; the narrator is unable to commit the murder when the old man's eyes are closed because it is the evil eye that bothers him. 

Implicitly, the narrator's motive for murder appears to be his insanity. The narrator's constant claim that he is not mad comes across as a bit of a "thou doth protest too much" situation. The more adamantly the narrator struggles to prove he is not mad, the more mad he seems. Even the explicit logic behind the murder points to the narrator's insanity; committing murder because the appearance of someone's eye disturbs you is an insane reason to commit murder! The narrator's perceived "over acuteness of the senses" is also a sign of his insanity. He claims to hear "all things in the heaven and in the earth" and "many things in hell," but no one else is able to hear all of these minute sounds. The narrator seems to be imagining these sounds. 

Through explicit and implicit details, the reader can easily discern the motive behind murder in "The Tell-Tale Heart," but it is much more difficult to understand the motive for murder in "The Cask of Amontillado." In "The Cask of Amontillado," the reader is introduced to two characters: the narrator Montresor and his friend Fortunato. In the first few lines of the story, Montresor explains that he has suffered "thousands of injuries of Fortunato" and he was able to dismiss all of these, but now Fortunato has insulted him. Although the reader is given this vague explanation as to why Montresor must kill Fortunato, Montresor never explains how Fortunato insulted him. 

The reader is made to understand that Montresor's motive for murder is revenge, but is never told what exactly Montresor is avenging. To justify the murder, Fortunato is made to look like a fool and Montresor emphasizes his need for revenge. Fortunato is first described as wearing "motley;" the narrator further explains that Fortunato "had on a tight-fitting parti-striped dress" and he is wearing a jester's hat. He is wearing a fool's costume for the entirety of the story. He is also excessively drunk when he is first introduced to the reader. Despite already being drunk, Fortunato continues to accept more alcohol as he follows Montresor into the catacombs. These details shape the reader's impression of Fortunato as a fool.

Montresor's need for revenge is presented in the first paragraph of the story, but the reader is reminded of it in other places throughout the text as well. Fortunato asks Montresor what his family's motto is and Montresor replies with, "Nemo me impune lacessit." This motto translates to "No one attacks me with impunity." This suggests that a core value for Montresor is revenge; no wrong committed against him will go unpunished. In the opening to the story, Montresor explains that he feels insulted by Fortunato and this insult cannot go unpunished. It is clear that Montresor does not forgive easily, but the reader is never told how serious the insult was. 

I think it is easier to understand the murderer's logic in "The Tell-Tale Heart" because insanity needs no reason; the reader doesn't expect an insane person to act reasonably. In "The Cask of Amontillado," the murderer seems sane so it is difficult to understand his motive for murder, especially because he only gives us a vague explanation of being wronged.

Apess: What is love?

Apess, in his strong argument against racial prejudice, asks his audience, "What is love or its effects?" He uses a long list of biblical quotes to remind his reader that the Christian faith preaches love and that those important lessons are not being acted out across the country. He argues that if people are to follow Jesus's example, they must love each other without prejudice. He contrasts biblical definitions of love with the reality of white Christians' actions in order to highlight the hypocrisy of white Christians during his time, but also throughout history. In preparing for our presentation, Sarah May and I discussed this question together. We plan to ask it during our presentation as well, because it's a question that deserves attention.

Love is a concept that has the potential to fix a lot of problems in the world. Love's effects are wide-reaching. Love inspires trust and respect. Love fosters acceptance. It prompts us to see the best in people and gives us the desire to help them in their worst. Love can be painful when those that we love disappoint us, but it generally produces good things.  If we all shared a sense of love for one another, we would be inclined to do a lot more good in the world. To treat others with love would be the best way for society to function.

I know that this post sounds entirely too optimistic and unrealistic, but try to imagine a world in which we all loved each other. We would be compelled to act kindly and with the utmost respect for others. I imagine that we would act fairly towards others. For example, rather than trying to make deals that most benefit ourselves, we would make deals that are mutually and equally beneficial. We would not try to hurt each other or act with complete disregard. Human rights would be equal around the world because we would honestly believe that every human being deserves to be treated in the best possible way. We would want to achieve things in cooperation with one another, rather than attempting to always prove one side to be right and the other side to be wrong. Society would be full of people who would be inclined to improve the world.

I think that Apess's use of the Bible is strong in this text because he focuses on texts about love and because it is a text that his audience would recognize as being authoritative  These appeals to religion would have been particularly relevant for people in America in the 1800s; his audience would have most likely been familiar with several of these verses and several would have been Christians. However, I think even some one who is not Christian could find these quotes relevant. These quotes are appealing because they present the best side of humanity-- one that is full of compassion and deep friendship. If we were all to evaluate our actions, we could probably find plenty of actions that were not committed with love in mind. If we were to consciously choose to act with love in all future endeavors, we could become our best possible selves.

"Self-Reliance," a most quotable text

"Self-Reliance," by Ralph Waldo Emerson struck me as being full of quotes that one might see placed over a pretty picture and pinned on Pinterest as quotes about life or posted on tumblr, or something of that nature. For this reason, I've decided to blog about a collection of quotes that most resonated with me.

"A man should learn to detect and watch that gleam of light which flashes across his mind from within, more than the lustre of the firmament of bards and sages. Yet he dismisses without notice his thought, because it is his."

I love this quote for both its meaning and its imagery. Emerson tells us that we have to trust our intuition and imagination; the thoughts that flash across our mind are potentially brilliant. People have a tendency to qualify their thoughts by saying, "I think," "I feel" or, "In my opinion" rather than simply stating their thoughts. This quote addresses that tendency to "dismiss without notice" our own thoughts as wise statements. In my own writing, I struggle to stop qualifying my statements and deeming them less valuable than that of another author or critic.

"The power which resides in him is new in nature, and none but he knows what that is which he can do, nor does he know until he has tried."

The part of this quote that stood out to me was "nor does he know until he has tried." This is the idea that until we attempt something, we cannot know the result. I do not whether I will succeed or fail until I at least try. This is a reminder that we are powerful and that we must test our own power without fear of failure.

"We but half express ourselves, and are ashamed of that divine idea which each of us represents."

This quote reminded me of the human tendency to censor ourselves. There are a lot of things that I do not say in the course of a day because something has caused me to doubt whether or not I should speak at certain times. Emerson rejects this censorship; he believes that our selves and our self-expression are representative of something "divine." If we doubt ourselves, we limit our opportunities for expression; Emerson reminds us that there is no reason to doubt ourselves.

"Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string."

This quote also emphasizes the need to trust one's intuition and thoughts. I liked the succinctness of this line; it makes this quote an easy motto for life.

"How is a boy the master of society; independent, irresponsible ... He cumbers himself never about consequences, about interests: he gives an independent, genuine verdict ... But the man is, as it were, clapped into jail by his consciousness."

I love this quote because it addresses how socialization negatively affects people. First, Emerson discusses the freedom of being a child; children are known for speaking without inhibitions. Then, he compares a person's growing consciousness to a jail. Emerson asserts that all people start their lives with independent thoughts and a willingness to express themselves freely, but as we are socialized, we begin to censor ourselves.

"Society everywhere is in conspiracy against the manhood of every one of its members."

This quote is closely related to the previous quote. Society robs people of their individuality by forcing them to conform to norms of behavior. This process of normalization suppresses one's own instincts in favor of the larger society's opinions.

"Whoso would be a man must be a nonconformist."

Emerson asserts that one's manhood is determined by one's individuality. I took it to mean that to be a whole person, one must be a nonconformist. If we all conform to one ideal, we are a group rather than individuals. Our individual identity is formed by refusing to conform; our differences (and willingness to be different) sets us apart in ways that make us human. Diversity is what creates a beautiful and interesting world.

"My life is not an apology, but a life. It is for itself and not for a spectacle."

There is strength in the words "my life is not an apology." This is a refusal to live life for others or to live in an attempt to validate one's existence. Life is simply life.

"It is easy in the world to live after the world's opinion; it is easy in solitude to live after our own; but the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude."

I identify strongly with all of Emerson's quotes that value nonconformity. I appreciate difference and value people who are willing to be different. This quote is a reminder that the easy way to live is to conform with the world, but the easiest way to live is not the most rewarding. It is easy to publicly agree with the world, but Emerson asserts that it is only by keeping "the independence of solitude" that one becomes great.

"The other terror that scares us from self-trust is our consistency; a reverence for our past act or word."

I like this quote because it serves as a reminder that it is okay to change one's mind. Opinions change over time, for a variety of reasons. Emerson allows room for evolution; he says that it is limiting to try to always be consistent.

"Insist on yourself; never imitate."

This is one of the most quotable lines of "Self-Reliance" because it is concise and profound. Emerson argues that we must not strive to be like others; we are capable of our own greatness. Imitation does not produce great new meaning; it is just mimicry of a previous thought.

"Nothing can bring you peace but yourself. Nothing can bring you peace but the triumph of principles."

This quote resonated with me because peace of mind is a powerful concept. One of my ultimate goals is to be content with myself and my life. Emerson says that the only thing that will bring me peace is myself and the triumph of principles. If I can rely on myself and my principles, I can find peace. That is a beautiful thought.

Although much of what Emerson wrote resonated with me, I did not agree with his consistent use of masculine pronouns and references to "man" or "manhood." As someone who speaks out against conformity, one would think that Emerson would have broken the tradition of using masculine language. I found myself wanting to add bracketed phrases such as "or she" and "or woman" to each of these quotes so that they would be inclusive. I settled for offering my interpretations using inclusive and gender neutral language.