Insanity Past All Limits: The Tell-Tale Heart

Author's Note: Okay, I wrote this in the point that whoever is reading this has already previously read the story.Also, I'm kind of writing in a slight style that is similar to the story's style.

Insanity Past All Limits: The Tell-Tale Heart

Fariha M

Spying, stalking, and finally murdering. What gives you the thought that this narrator is sane? "The Tell- Tale Heart" is not about a murder, but about the loss of sanity. To prove sanity does one have the must to lie, to kill, and to beg? In this case, all of that is proven true. Though we see from different points of view, do we see the truth? The truth behind the lies, the truth behind the screams, and the truth of the insanity? Yes, yes we do. The truth- it's a foul stench coming from a corpse decapitated and hidden under a flooring of wood: the narrator, in "The Tell-Tale Heart" is insane.

Sentence after sentence, the narrator attempts to prove his sanity but ends in doing the opposite.

In the very first few sentences he states to the reader that he is sane. That is exactly why we suspect his insanity. He starts to defend himself while there isn't even a question in play. We never had questioned him, yet he tries to make us agree with his sanity and release him from his personal hell. He is anticipating our judgments, knowing what he has done are the actions of a madman. Knowing himself that he is mad, he persists to make us agree with his sanity as well as fool himself to agree with his own lies.

Forget that, ignore his persistence of an unneeded answer, and notice his tone. His tone, his desperate begging, and his pleas: notice them. Every stupid action that he has done may have a logical explanation. But, what was he doing during those actions? What was he thinking? Had he gone mad at a moment of time and soon recovered after all was said and done- after he admits to the deed? He begs us to see what he sees. When he describes what he has done and notices that only a fool or one who has gone mad would do this, he suddenly finds a reason to make this insane action sane and explainable. His tone also becomes another sign of his madness.

Are these reasons agreeable to? If you really still disagree, then think about why the narrator murders the man. Just for spying it takes him an hour to bring his head through the door, and an hour to retreat it. I must say, a man that is capable to have this carefulness he can't be mad. But look at the facts. If a man really was sane he wouldn't have to spend an hour to look through a door to spy on an eye. Yes an eye; the narrator had no problems with the man. A matter of fact- he states that, "Object there was none. Passion there was none. I loved the old man. He had never wronged me. He had never given me insult. For his gold I had no desire. I think it was his eye!" This shows that this narrator was mad enough to kill a man for his blind eye. You see, it must have been cataracts that had caused a pale blue film to grow over the pupil of this man's eye. But does that mean that this eye is evil?! Does that mean that a man should be killed for his disability?! No it doesn't! So, there you have it, another reason a pure source of insanity is visible through this narrators actions. Not only are the reasons this man is murdered insane- the way he was murdered is also just as horrifying!

To kill a man for something he can't help- is pure evil. The only excuse for this would be insanity. Insanity, it's such a large point in this story. And it definitely showed through actions. To spy on a man, an hour is consumed to bring ones head through the door. Another hour is taken when a head retreats out of that door. Not only that, this is done for seven nights straight only at midnight. Such timing is being played; the wariness of the narrator leads to madness because of how long being wary is taken to. The character is shown of being a slight bit tipsy. Something that is just short of proper or perfect could have driven this character madder than he already is. If a minute or even if a second had been off, this narrator could have and most likely would have broken into spasms. There are absolutely no facts that can prove this man sane in any way possible. Even if you look into his past, there are no signs that could lead up to sanity.

His past is actually mentioned a few times in the story. Right at the start it is mentioned that he had a disease. It was a disease that had sharpened his senses. He could hear much more than an average human. He personally states that "I heard all things in the heaven and in the earth. I heard many things in hell." A sane person is unable to do this. Even if a person’s hearing is acute- there is no chance that a man has the powers to hear what cannot be heard. Along with his hearing, his sense of smell, touch and taste were improved. Also, his sight was much better than before. He should have been able to see clearer than before. Unfortunately, he wasn't able to see clear enough that he could see through his own miserable lies.

That is what all his excuses are. Just plain lies. WE can see through them, but he is unable to. If studied closer, you can find other details that will itch you at the back of your head. And it is not until we see that all of his words are lies, can we realize that this man really is insane. There is no right for a man to commit these actions in a state of working senses; this is what can officially conclude that this man really is insane. There is nothing that can change this fact that has been repeated so many times and has been carved into stone. "Some things are brought into light. Some things are dragged into light. And some things are always in the light, but never are seen" Unknown

Changed Story Ending

Authors Note: I had the story of Cinderella. The change in the story was that when Cinderella arrives at the ball, the chandelier falls on the prince. So, here is my odd yet interesting ending.

Glass shattered and flew in all directions. Cinderella ducked just as shards shot at her. Blood spilled over the floor, coating it in a dreadful substance.

The spilled blood seeped through the tile lining in the floor. Cinderella looked down at it in despair. Sorrow filled her heart as tears filled her eyes. Grief and woe emanated from her very body and soul. Looking up she saw all showing the signs of her thoughts on every other face. As she was looking around she saw a dashingly handsome young man.

Bright blue were his eyes, soft blonde was his hair, tall and studious was he. Cinderella melted at the sight of him. Soon everyone was looking at the handsome young man. Giggles and gossip sprouted from all the young ladies in hopes of falling in love and being swept off their feet that night at the ball. Suddenly, something changed inside of Cinderella. A slight anger boiled up inside of her. She was just about to yell at everyone's foolishness for forgetting about the prince's death when the blood across the floor began to boil. It sprayed in all directions. And from the symbol of death, came the truth: a dragon.

The blood gathered together and the body of the prince disappeared. In its place was left a dragon. Almost all tall as the distance of the ground to ceiling and as strong as 100 elephants. The scales of the dragon were a color of shining and reflecting dark purple. Along its back were scales of pure ashen blackness. The fringes circling its neck were a neon green flame necklace of misery and shock. The dragon circled the room boring its eyes into the bodies of the frozen stiff people. It stopped in front of Cinderella and cocked its head slightly to the left. Step by step it grew towards the fair maiden, approaching her with her doom.

"Nay!" screamed the handsome man. He ran up to Cinderella and unsheathed his sword. "Doom shall not come to my fair maiden but to this horrid beast!" declared the prince with a slight British accent. And with a graceful yet powerful throw, aiming at the throat of the dragon, he tossed his sword. "SLASH!" The head of the dragon fell off just a few yards away from the feet of the brave man. Success!

How grateful could Cinderella be?! She threw her arms around the neck of the man as the entire crowd in the ballroom started with great interest. Overflowing with joy, Cinderella planted a sweet kiss on his cheek.

"My fair maiden, who's honor do I have?" asked the man.

"Cinderella," replied Cinderella.

You are as beautiful as your name!" exclaimed the prince, "My name is Sir Richard the IIII."

"Thank You for saving me Richard."

"No need for thanks, but please allow me to ask your hand in marriage, Cinderella."

Everyone in the crowd gasped. The fair maiden shyly smiled showing no signs of saying no. And from her lips came a simple "Yes." Everybody smiled, but eagerly waited for more.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" cried Richard.

 "The pleasure is all mine," replied Cinderella with a flirty smile.

"Of course, of course!" happily laughed Richard.

"Yeaaaaa…… but there are like a few guidelines, for after we get married."

"And may I inquire what would those be?"

"Well first of all I DON'T COOK OR CLEAN! I am sooooo tired from slaving away all the time."

"Ooookkaaayyyy?"

"And after we're married, don't expect me to be so committed. I go through guys like how I go through clothes!"

"Then what's the point of getting married??!!!!"

"Obviously so I can escape this stupid slavery job for my steps"

"What slavery job?"

"DING-DONG! DING-DONG!" the clock struck 12 o'clock and Cinderella's dress became rags once more.

"Ohhhh, that slavery job!" Richard stupidly stated.

"Yes, this slavery job moron!" retorted Cinderella.

"Fine, whatever we can get married, but then I won't have to be so committed either right?

"Sure, whatever, I don't really care. I just need you to get me out of this position."

"Okay then."

Then the queen randomly shouted across the ballroom, "Cinderella, dear, why don't you change into this quickly. They seem to match your glass slippers quite well."

"Awwww, thanks!" replied Cinderella happily as she swiftly walked over to the queen. The queen handed over her new dress. Cinderella changed behind the throne away from staring eyes. She emerged wearing an elegant gown, just as graceful as her previous gown. She gave a twirl for all who were watching her and swiftly walked back over to Richard.

"Love ya honey! Bye now!" baby-talked Cinderella.

"Bye," replied Richard.

"Hey hottie!" she called over to another man with a flirty wave. She skipped over to the man that was confusingly staring at her.

"And there she goes," muttered Richard, "Well no reason for me not to be happy! Hey beautiful!" he called over to a pretty brunette.

And from that moment on began a very interesting relationship. But also started a very odd and twisted version of "HAPPILY EVER AFTER!"



Hooks- The Intro for An Essay

Author'sNote: The picture at the bottom shows light behind darkess. That's like life behind death. Neat!

Death. Such a simple word with such a complex meaning. It brings pain, brings hate, brings worries and stress. However, is there another direction it has. Is there hope, life, and greatness shrouded behind and beyond the grief of death? I suppose there has to be. Every death begins a new life, a new challenge, a new start. Life and death may be similar in so many unknown ways. While we fools moan our reactions of losing one we love, we never see what good may come. For some, there may be a better life and for other, they will realize that death can bring a happy change.

Hooks- The Intro for A Story

Darkness cloaked the chilly and barren streets of London. It indeed was a haunting and moonless night. Distant howls echoed off the walls and buildings, frightening any souls who dared to venture out. Judith Marce, from the distant Arabian peninsula, tread the black and dark streets alone on that cold and misty night. She had come to London to start a new life and find success in her endeavors. Tonight, she planned to celebrate her success in finding a new job - as an official Subway employee. Nothing could disappoint her, nothing could destroy her glory, nothing could take away her new life: not even the sinister and mystifying nights or even the haunting tales of death.

The Pressure of Confidence

All of us, who have ever been put under pressure for an important job or situation know the urge and need for success. “Casey at the Bat” is about Casey, a baseball player for Mudville, who is put a test to prove his skill. It is also about confidence, attitude, reactions under pressure, and determination. These are the five main characteristics that all people who are continually depended upon must have, especially when one is put under pressure of hundreds of people who are watching and criticizing intently.

When the crowd cheers for Casey as he is called up to bat, this strongly resembles the intensity that Casey is feeling. He could have been worried as well as confident with every step towards the dusted plate that so many more stars and players had run. Yet with the choice of turning back, Casey still steps up to plate with confidence flowing through him, with his heart full of determination. This shows that Casey’s commitment to his play because it symbolizes his trust of himself and his trust of his skill. Casey was confident enough to take a chance to try proving his skill to all viewers. Although in the end, Casey comes out in failure, and with his head down in shame he trudges off the field.

With disappointment and a sense of his fans losing the excitement maybe Casey had hopes in his heart and a goal to succeed soon. This was a great part of the story. It almost surprised me that Casey struck out. I had supposed that this part of the story would be similar to “Comeback Kids: Safe at Home” by Mike Lupica. I supposed that Casey would hit a homer and all would work out as soon as Casey proved himself worthy of the attention he had been getting, and all would have "Lived Happily Ever After." However if that had happened it would have been disappointing, because there wouldn't really be a turning point and a climax that would hold ones interest. Something that could have caused a strike-out could have been his reaction two his first two calls; he had tensed and became frustrated. Maybe if he had kept his cool there could have been victory and cheers on that field that day for Mudville. Nonetheless, Casey did strike out and in an odd way proved that he had confidence, determination, and skill. It was a twist to the happy story, that’s why I liked this part of the story.

Another of my favorite parts of this story was when the author, Ernest Thayer, described how Casey had felt about his game. This represented that he had a passion and skill for his game. Since, he was so skilled, him being put under the spot- light for bringing all home, made him work harder to achieve what all his fans and team-mates expected from him. Another thing that made him confident, in my opinion, was his previous experience and his fans. The first time anyone could have thought Mudville had a chance was when Casey stepped up to bat. This put a slight turn to the story. Had not all the players had been called out previously, maybe there wouldn't be so much pressure, maybe Casey wouldn't have tensed, maybe he wouldn't have struck out, and all would have "Lived Happily Ever After." But, nonetheless, Casey's attitude did falter and Casey lost all his praise of the moment. Something different always takes me by surprise, that’s why I also liked this part of the story.

Even though, confidence and skill were the main points I liked throughout the whole story, I still enjoyed most of it. I especially liked that Thayer thoroughly presents all symbols of Casey's performance. But, the things I disliked were that Thayer took too long to get the message over. When you check the length of the introduction of characters, you may notice that over half the short story/ poem was just naming characters. Even though this was the rising action, had there been less of the naming of characters, the story may have been a bit more exciting. Had I wrote this story I may have reduced some of the introductions of characters. Also, the ending of the story, was a little confusing. This would confuse any reader and may even turn the reader away from Thayer’s publications. I know it did to me for a moment.

To me this story proved skill, confidence, attitude, reactions under pressure, and determination are things I should have for a task with great importance that I have been trusted with. Its how the old saying goes: “Desire is the key to motivation, but its determination and commitment that lets you reach your unrelenting pursuit of your goal - a commitment to excellence - that will enable you to attain the success you seek.” (Unknown)