because they know the acts are wrong. Poe wants the reader to realize that these dark depths of the mind are present in everyone's mind, and that the readers themselves may not be absolved from similar actions. This motive is disturbing and unsettling. The average reader does not want to believe that they are possible of such gruesome thoughts or actions. So, if Poe set out to disturb his audience, then he has succeeded.Ironically, the same aspects that make "The Black Cat" perfect for a Pragmatic/Rhetorical interpretation also makes it perfect for an interpretation using New Criticism. Whereas the Pragmatic/Rhetorical critics examine the effects a work has on its audience, the New critics disregard that aspect instead of concentrating on the traits that give the story its own distinctive form or character. Most critics would find it challenging to find another story that compares to "The Black Cat," unless of course it was another Poe work. There are many aspects that make this story distinct. First, Poe uses the black cat to represent the alcoholism that the main character is struggling to defeat. Many other authors have used animal imagery, but Poe uses the cat to illustrate the recurring disease of which no cure is found. This leads directly into the second unique aspect of this story, which is the graphic violence. Very few works from this period depict violence as Poe does. The graphic nature lends itself beautifully to Poe writing style and form. The key aspect of the New Criticism when applied to "The Black Cat" is the relationship between the two aforementioned examples. Every violent act is directly related to the black cat, even the murder of the main character's wife. Both aspects are constant, and repeated, throughout the story, and they lead directly to the story's resolution. It is also important to mention how certain themes accompany the violence and black cat references. Those themes include life vers...
