Obsession And Deviance Essay Research Paper Obsession

Obsession And Deviance Essay, Research Paper

Obsession and Deviance

Poe presents the narrators of “The Tell-Tale Heart” and “The Cask of Amontillado” as devious, obsessed characters. Both are overpowered by the need to consume the life of their victim. Though they use different strategies to carry out the murders in different ways, obsession is the driving force in both. It is this obsession that inspires them to design these cunning strategies and carry out the executions.

The obsession of Montresor in “The Cask of Amontillado” and of the narrator in “The Tell-Tale Heart” is obvious throughout the stories. The narrator in “The Tell-Tale Heart” is actually obsessed with the old man’s eye, rather than the old man himself. It is this obsession with the eye that drives him to commit the murder, despite his relatively good feelings toward the old man personally. This is why he is unable to harm the old man when the eye is concealed. His obsession with the eye is what controls him and his actions. Without it in sight to enrage this obsession, he is unable to harm the old man. This also is why he must shine the lantern light upon only that eye. By leaving the rest of the old man in the dark, he in a sense de-humanizes the victim. His obsession intensifies and takes full control of his actions. He eliminates the old man from the equation and is able to charge him and make the kill.

Montresor in “The Cask of Amontillado” is similar to the narrator in “The Tell-Tale Heart” in that his obsession with consuming the soul of Fortunato influences his every action. However, it is with Fortunato himself that he is obsessed. He feeds off of Fortunato’s pain, unlike the narrator in “The Tell-Tale Heart” who’s obsession is with destroying a menacing inanimate object. Montresor’s entire conspiracy is focused around making Fortunato suffer, and for him to know just who is causing this suffering. This is why he goes to such lengths to put together this intricate strategy. It could have been so much easier to kill Fortunato in some easier, quicker way. Instead, he dedicates himself to torturing Fortunato. He creates a plan that leads Fortunato into the depths of the catacombs beneath his home, and kills him in an excruciating manner. These great lengths are taken in order to fully consume the soul of Fortunato, and to satisfy his unbearable obsession.

As stated, these obsessions control the lives of these two narrators. They are both dedicated to destroying the source of their own obsession. Both narrators attempt to devise plans that will eventually bring them towards their objective. They are both devious in their own sense, and how they setup their plans is quite thrilling. The narrator in “The Tell-Tale Heart” attempts to make the old man feel safe with him, and establish trust between the old man and himself. He says “I was never kinder to the old man than during the whole week before I killed him” (Poe 1118). He is devious and cunning in that he never gives the old man even a hint as to how that eye is making him feel. The old man does not see the attack coming, and therefore cannot be prepared. The aftermath of the murder is also well planned by the madman. Despite his obvious insanity, he is able to handle himself calmly directly after the murder, and dispose of the body where it will probably never be found. It is not until the end of the tale that his insanity causes him to lose control over himself as he gives himself in to the officers.

Montresor, on the other hand, is different from the narrator in “The Tell-Tale Heart” in that he appears to have his sanity, and is able to pull off the ingenious plan that he has devised. Like that narrator, however, Montresor uses cunning and misleads his victim into feeling safe in order to complete his plan. He is secretive and deviant not only to Fortunato (his victim) but to the reader as well. He trusts no one, and allows no one to stand in his way. “We will go back; your health is precious…you will be ill, and I cannot be responsible” (Poe 1115). Here he tries to mislead his victim into believing that he feels genuine concern for his health. He is continually trying to disguise his plan. Also, he cleverly blinds Fortunato of his true intentions by planting the thoughts of Amontillado inside his head. This has a crippling effect on Fortunato’s judgment as he is willing to be lead through the dark, damp catacombs in search of the great wine. Fortunato is incredibly anxious to get to the Amontillado, and Montresor uses this weakness against him well. Also, he is continuously providing the already drunk Fortunato with alcohol to further hinder his judgment and intuition. It takes Fortunato a bit of time to realize just what is happening to him as Montresor is chaining him up. Without a doubt, his reaction would have been much quicker had he been sober. Every action that Montresor carries out appears to have a distinct purpose.

To add to Fortunato’s desire to go with Montresor to the Amontillado, Montresor uses Fortunato’s ego to his advantage. By repeatedly bringing up Luchesi’s name and saying that he could just as well go with him to test the Amontillado, Montresor makes Fortunato quite jealous and offended. As a result, Fortunato desires to go with Montresor even more. He cleverly adds (referring in the quote to Luchesi) “And yet some fools will have it that his taste is a match for your own” (Poe