Research Paper on:
Edgar Allan Poe/4 Short Stories

Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
in Poes work and is particularly clear in stories where one character, through age, circumstance, etc., holds power over another or has more power than another character. An examination of  several of Poes narratives reveals the various ways in which he addressed this theme and the catastrophic results that the abuse of power had on those who welded it  carelessly or for immoral purposes. "The Tell-Tale Heart" illustrates how Poe uses a differential in power to provide what is, basically, the personality profile of a mad man. From  the onset, the reader is made aware that the narrator is insane, as he asks, "...why will you say that I am mad" (Tell-Tale Heart). As this suggests, Poe chooses  his details carefully to convey the random and incoherent nature of the killers thoughts. In the second paragraph, the killer assures his listener that he "loved the old man," who  had "never wronged" him, or given him insult (Tell-Tale Heart). So, why then, did he kill him? He says, "I think it was his eye!" (Tell-Tale Heart). Although the killer,  having pounced on this idea, uses it as his rationale throughout the remainder of his narrative, the words "I think" shows that he just now found this concept, it was  not something that had occurred to him earlier. The murder appears to stem solely from the fact that the narrator has the power in this situation. The victim is old  and feeble; the narrator is obviously a man in his prime. Another revealing detail is how Poe shows the unnamed murderer to be totally egocentric. He tells his actions  with obvious pride -- "...you should have seen me. You should have seen how wisely I proceeded -- with what caution -- with what foresight" (Tell-Tale Heart). After the murdering