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Symbolism in The Tell-Tale Heart
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Symbolism in The Tell-Tale Heart
Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Tell-Tale Heart’ is one of his celebrated short stories that narrate the story of a murderer who takes the life of an old man because he has an issue with his blind eye. He uses the excuse of the old man’s beating heart to finish what he started before someone else notices. Allan Poe has used symbolism in most of his writings. It is not only the Tell-Tale Heart but he has mastered the use of symbolism in his works. From the “The Pit and the Pendulum” where the whole narrative is a symbolism of the dark and rough time in its torture chambers. Symbolism in his story “The Black Cat” uses the cat as a representation of the kind of hatred that grows in people and remains bottled up. The same thing happens in “The Tell-Tale Heart.” Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Tell-Tale Heart’ is one of his famous short stories that narrate the story of a murderer who takes the life of an old man because he has an issue with his blind eye. He uses the excuse of the old man’s beating heart to finish what he started before someone else notices. He uses the beating heart to represent the consciousness that is in human nature after they have been involved or done a bad thing. The key symbols in the story The Tell-Tale Heart are the eye and the pounding heart.
The storyteller reports being repelled by the eye of the old man. He calls it the “vulture” eye (Poe). The bird is a scavenger that eats dead animals and rotting flesh, which means the eye is a representation of preying and death. The “evil eye” is bothering the old man so much that it drives him to madness. The fact that he calls it the “vulture” eye symbolizes the presence of death or predicts the imminent death, as vultures are known to hang around dying creatures and waits to prey on them (Ellatopia). The color of the eye can also be translated to mean coldness. The eye is blue a color that is usually a symbol of coldness. The narrator feels like the eye is watching him and he feels like goring it out. The eye can also be translated by the reader to mean light, intellect, and wisdom. Vision is always associated with vision and discernment of the future. This is why it is difficult for the reader to comprehend why the narrator wants to kill the eye and the old man along with it.
The speaker terms the old man’s eye as evil. The veil or the film that he describes is over the eye might be the reason why he calls it the vulture eye. The old man’s evil is seen to have a huge influence on the narrator because he is restless when he sees it. he appears to be tortured and bothered by it so much that he feels to murder the man just because he is not comfortable with a single part of his body. His dull eye with the veil or film covering it might be a symbol that the man cannot see the danger that is larking. He is in imminent danger but does not see it. However, the light still allows light to the extent that the old man’s heart starts pounding fast.
The other symbol is the beating heart is a representation of emotions and conscience. The narrator believes that the loud beating of the heart comes from the old man when the light goes through his eye. However, it is obviously the heart of the narrator that is pounding because he feels the guilt, which ultimately leads to his confession. The beating heart might then be a symbol of the lack of closure that comes with being a murderer and the haunting consequence even if we believe the dead are buried. In essence, the old man’s pounding heart is the speaker’s guilty conscience. At this point in the story, the narrator is filled with extreme rage, fear, and guilt so it is obvious his heart is where the beating sound is emanating. He is delusional, he cannot separate the way he reacts from his own self and what he suspects to be the old man. Despite dismembering the victim’s body and putting it under the floorboards, the narrator still hears the heart beating. The narrator is hallucinating from his guilty conscience.
The beating heart is a representation of the human morality or human aspect of the narrator. Throughout the narration, the storyteller considers himself the animal without emotions, and without the capacity to be sympathetic. He somehow takes pride in what he has done, he stalks the old man like an animal would and even feels good about himself for executing the perfect murder. However, when the guilt starts creeping in his humanity starts coming back and the guilt starts making him hear the pounding heart from under the floorboards. The beating heart bothers the old man so much that he confesses. The heart is basically a revelation of his conscience, and after hearing it he has is faced with certain moral code.
Works Cited
Ellatopia. “Symbolism: The Tell Tale Heart.” Short Stories Analyzed, 13 Oct. 2013, www.shortstoriesanalyzed.com/2013/10/symbolism-tell-tale-heart.html.
Poe, Edgar Allan. The Tell-tale Heart And Other Writings. New York : Bantam, 1982. Print.
Situational Approach
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Situational Approach
Case 5.1: Marathon Runners at Different Levels
Part 1
The runners are new to this activity and have accumulated no experience at all. Because they are all novices to running, they are classified as (D1) under the development levels. Their excitement about the race and their effort to show up each day is an indication of high commitment. So under the development levels, they are D1, low competence, and high commitment. This group asks basic questions constantly and is worried about their abilities in the race. For this reason, David should adopt the qualities of a coach represented by (S3) leadership styles. The group needs direction on the technicalities of a marathon. David does not expect, however, to deal with these kinds of questions and is not prepared. He is rather prepared to use Directing (S2), in his mind, his work is to direct and not to encourage this group coming to him with childish insecurities.
Part 2
It is clear from their choice of words and their concerns that runners in group two are considerably experienced and know a thing or two about running, they possibly lie under the (D3) developmental level (Northouse). With this group, David is at his element being highly supportive and because of their experience, he does not need to apply a hands-on approach or exercise high direction.
Part 3
This group’s experience and the ability of several of them to finish in the top ten put them at the D4 developmental category. It might not be David’s fault that he appears ineffective as a coach for this team. Their ego and an idea in their minds that they need a certain level of practice and tactics mean they do not appreciate David. They feel bigger than the New York marathon and look to focus on marathons beyond this one.
Part 4
David’s experience as a marathon runner himself is important for his coaching; his idea of the sport makes him suitable to speak to other people as a coach. The way he deals with group 1 may suggest a little bias, which is not a strong point for a leader. He needs to exercise patience if he is to succeed in this position. He also needs to exert a little more authority and demand respect from Group 3 runners.
Case 5.3: Getting the Message Across
Part 1
The current problem may be that training and leadership may be absent. It is good that Ms. Calder is interacting with students and relating with them, however, not having standards to run the station is major problem. She should focus some of her time training the students and holding them accountable than being friendly.
Part 2
Ann’s hands off approach means she is mainly doing things the S4 quadrant way and has no idea why the students are not following the rules. It is important for her apply the S1 or apply more of the S2 approach where she exerts more direction and becomes more involved. The nature of students and their ages mean their excitement for working for WCBA and learning the radio does not teach them right from wrong. They should be coached with an experienced individual and moderate during shifts.
Part 3
Ann can spend several shifts with the students and coach them on an individual basis. This will help her know how directive she needs to be with each of them. She will also be more informed on their level of skill. This is because situational leadership is based on the evaluation of employees’ skills and decides the level of need to amend in accordance.
Works Cited
Northouse, Peter G. Leadership: Theory and practice. Sage publications, 2018.
Should Marijuana be Legalized for Recreational Purposes
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Should Marijuana be Legalized for Recreational Purposes?
The fact that 23 states have legalized marijuana for medical use means that its use is beneficial in the management of various conditions, which questions the reason why there are restrictions against it elsewhere. The debate on whether to legalize marijuana is becoming fierce each day as proponents and opponents take sentimental positions. The rejection of a legalization bill by the state of Ohio has been the most recent event in this deadlock. Efforts to advise the best action on this issue through research has been biased and lean towards finding the harmful effects of the drug rather than its benefits. Legalizing marijuana for medical purposes is not enough, and there are numerous calls about legalizing it for recreational use.
The support for marijuana from the public in recent times has been significant, with more than half in support of its legalization. The fact that almost 44 percent have tried the drug is an indication of its influence in recent years. In comparison to other drugs, the effect of marijuana is relatively insignificant. The number of casualties reported each year from smoking or alcohol use is very concerning- almost half a million people die each year from tobacco smoking while 76, 000 die from causes directly related to alcohol. Marijuana, on the other hand, has been indirectly responsible for about 32 deaths each year, which beats the logic to why alcohol and tobacco are legal, and marijuana is not.
Opponents claim that the legalization of marijuana would increase its use among young people and open a way to more addictive drugs. More teens are enrolled for treatment from marijuana than any other drug, and allowing unrestricted access to adults will mean the same for children. Restrictive measures on the use of marijuana have reduced its use from 1979 to 2008 from 13.2 percent to 6.1 percent, respectively among people aged 12 and older, which is a significant health triumph.