The Black Cat By Edgar Allan Poe
The Narrator as a Youth / Young Man Personality: Tenderness of heart Personality: Tenderness of heart Disposition: Docile, gentle, humane Disposition: Docile, gentle, humane Friends: Had some; they joked about his tender-heartedness Friends: Had some; they joked about his tender-heartedness
Early Issues He MISTRUSTED PEOPLE even as a young man even as a young man thought animals were more trustworthy! thought animals were more trustworthy!
The Narrator as a Youth/ Young Man Marriage: Wife had the same likes as he did, esp. for animals Marriage: Wife had the same likes as he did, esp. for animals Pets: Birds, goldfish, dog, rabbit, monkey, cat Pets: Birds, goldfish, dog, rabbit, monkey, cat
Changes in the Narrator Personality Personality Disposition Disposition Friends Friends Marriage Marriage Pets Pets Alcohol
Narrator and Wife He treated her with Intemperate language Intemperate language Personal violence Personal violence
Narrator & Pluto
FIRE!
I approached and saw, as if graven in bas relief upon the white surface, the figure of a gigantic cat.
After the Fire Changes in Lifestyle
After the Fire The Second Cat The Second Cat
A Wife’s Revenge? Women & marriage in early 1800s Women & marriage in early 1800s Power of suggestion Power of suggestion Repressed/dulled guilt Repressed/dulled guilt
Final Downfall
A Cat’s Revenge?
What Goes Around Comes Around
Poe, Catarina, and Virginia