Edgar Allan Poe’s short story “The Tell-Tale Heart” is a gothic horror story that explores the more sinister side of human nature. The story is told through the eyes of an anonymous narrator who is obsessed with his elderly roommate, only referred to as “the old man.” The narrator’s obsession grows over time to the point where he murders the elderly man because he believes the man’s “evil eye” is the source of his suffering. He does so because he thinks the man’s “evil eye” is the source of his problems (Poe, pages 2-5). Even though the story is primarily about a man’s descent into madness and obsession with a specific object, it also makes an important point about the widespread problem of ageism. In this essay, we will look into the short story’s apparent claim about ageism, as well as how Poe uses literary devices to illustrate his point and how the text speaks to a specific audience or society.
This narrative makes the point that ageism, also known as discriminating against people based on their age, is a practice that has the potential to be both destructive and harmful. Throughout the story, the narrator expresses contempt for the elderly man with whom he shares his home, referring to him as having “vulture eyes” and describing his skin as “pale blue with a film over it” (Poe). The narrator’s continued focus on the older man’s eye gives the impression that he believes the man is subhuman solely because he appears so (Poe, pages 6-8). This dehumanization of an older adult exemplifies how ageism can deprive people of their dignity and worth solely because of their chronological age. Ageism is the practice of discriminating against people based on their chronological age.
Furthermore, the story shows how ageism can act as a catalyst for acts of violence and other forms of harm directed at older people. The narrator’s obsession with the elderly man eventually leads him to commit suicide, believing that the other man’s “evil eye” is to blame for all of his problems. In a society where this attitude is prevalent, the narrator’s actions demonstrate the dangers of looking down on the elderly and treating them as if they are expendable. The activities highlight the risks of looking down on the elderly. In this sense, the story warns about the potentially harmful effects of ageism and the importance of valuing and respecting people regardless of their age. The story emphasizes the importance of respecting and respecting older people in particular (Amir, pages, 8-11).
Throughout the course of the tale, Poe illustrates this central theme by employing a wide variety of literary devices. Symbolism can be considered one of the most prominent devices used. It is possible to interpret the narrator’s preoccupation with the older man’s eye as a metaphor for his preoccupation with the man’s age. The eye symbolizes the older adult’s vulnerability and mortality, reminding the narrator of his impending demise as he ages and eventually passes away. This symbol calls attention to the harmful effects of ageism, emphasizing how it can lead to the dehumanization and mistreatment of older people. Ageism can lead to the dehumanization and abuse of older people.
The irony is one of the techniques Poe employs in his story to draw attention to the overarching theme of ageism. Throughout the story, the narrator insists that he is not insane, even though he engages in actions that defy logic and is obsessed with an older man. This irony emphasizes how the narrator’s obsession with the older man’s age drives him insane. To put it another way, the narrator’s obsession with the older man’s age gradually destroys his sanity. This irony demonstrates how ageism can lead to harmful and irrational behavior, which can eventually cause harm to others. Ageism can also lead to older people being perceived as less intelligent (Alsahafi, 1-17).
Not only does Poe illustrate the topic of ageism through the use of symbolism and irony, but he also does so through the utilization of characterization. The narrator’s disdain for the older adult is brought into sharper relief by the vivid and specific descriptions of the older man’s physical appearance that the narrator provides. This portrayal illustrates how ageism can dehumanize individuals by robbing them of their worth and dignity solely based on their chronological age.
The narrative is told in the first person, which is another significant literary device used by Poe to emphasize the story’s overarching theme of ageism. Poe allows readers to experience the narrator’s perspective by telling the story from the narrator’s point of view. This enables readers to comprehend how the narrator’s obsession with the older adult’s age and vulnerability drives him to commit the heinous act of murder (CİVELEK, pages 33-45). The use of the first-person point of view emphasizes the idea that ageism is not just a general issue in society; instead, it is deeply ingrained in the thoughts and actions of individual people.
Furthermore, the narrator’s internal conflict and struggle with accepting his own age bring the topic of ageism into sharper focus. Throughout the story, the narrator keeps bringing up his own mortality and the fact that he is getting older, as well as how he is terrified of becoming old and helpless like the older man. As a result of his anxiety, he developed an unhealthy fixation on the older man’s frailty, which contributed to his decision to kill the man. Ageism is a personal fear and struggle that affects individuals, rather than simply discriminating against others based on their age. This personal struggle demonstrates how ageism extends beyond simply discriminating against others based on their age (CİVELEK, pages 33-45).
Additionally, the subject of ageism can be interpreted as a commentary on society’s values and primary concerns. The narrator is preoccupied with the older man’s eye throughout the narrative because it depicts the man’s deteriorating health and impending death so well. This preoccupation contrasts sharply with how society values youth and vitality, highlighting the extent to which the emphasis on youth and beauty contributes to the problem of ageism in society. The story’s commentary on societal values is relevant not only to Poe’s 19th-century audience, but also to readers today. This is because ageism is still a problem in today’s society.
Furthermore, if the reader so desires, the concept of ageism in “The Tell-Tale Heart” can be examined through the lens of power dynamics (Amir, pages, 12-20). The narrator’s power over him enables him to dehumanize and harm the older man, and the narrator, who is probably younger and more robust than the older man, does so. This power dynamic exemplifies society’s inherent inequality by demonstrating that those who are younger and more physically capable hold power over those who are older and less non-disabled. Poe emphasizes the importance of fair treatment and respect for all individuals, regardless of age, by illustrating the potentially disastrous outcomes of a power dynamic.
Also, the text speaks directly to a specific society or group. Poe was writing in the nineteenth century, when ageism was prevalent in the community. The story’s moral, which emphasized the dangers of ageism and the importance of valuing and respecting older people, would have been one that his audience could have related to and found meaningful. The story also emphasized the significance of valuing and respecting the elderly. Furthermore, the entire story takes place in a single room emphasizing the individual’s importance and the dangers resulting from disregarding or mistreating those in our immediate vicinity (Alsahafi, 1-17).
Conclusion
In conclusion, “The Tell-Tale Heart” by Edgar Allan Poe is more than just a murder mystery; it is also a witty commentary on the prejudice against the elderly. Poe employs literary techniques like symbolism, irony, and characterization to demonstrate how ageism can lead to the dehumanization of the elderly, mistreatment, and even violence against them. The story’s central themes—the perils of ageism and the importance of valuing and respecting one’s elders—would have been timely and significant messages for Poe’s audience in the nineteenth century and readers today. Finally, “The Tell-Tale Heart” warns against ageism and calls to treat everyone with the same respect and kindness, no matter their chronological age. The movie’s main character, “The Tell-Tale Heart,” repeatedly emphasizes this point.
Work Cited
Alsahafi, Morad. “A Narrative Discourse Analysis of Poe’s Short Story” The Tell-Tale Heart”: Implications for Language Teaching.” English Language Teaching 13.1 (2020): 1–17.
Amir, Shamaila. “Analysis of the Short Story’The Tell-Tale Heart’by Edgar Allan Poe.” The Creative Launcher 2 (2020).
CİVELEK, Deniz. “THE STYLISTIC ANALYSIS OF “THE TELL-TALE HEART” BY EDGAR ALLAN POE1.” İnternational Research İn Philological Sciences I (2022): 93.
Poe, Edgar Allan. “The tell-tale heart.” (1850).
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