f the senses cannot be trusted. Finally, the definition of insanity as it relates to "The Tell Tale Heart" fits the actions of the narrator. The narrator is insane because his actions are criminally foolish and unreasonable. In addition, the narrator shows many times he suffers from a disorder of the mind which makes him unable to distinguish between right and wrong. Poe suggests this definition of insanity fits the narrator. The narrator is unjustified in his reasoning for killing the old man. He says, "…but I found the eye always closed; and so it was impossible to do the work; for it was not the old man who vexed me but his Evil Eye". The narrator likes the old man and cannot kill him unless he can see the Evil Eye. This shows how unreasonable it is that he should kill the old man. Also, killing the old man is a criminally foolish action, therefore the narrator is insane. In the earlier moments of the story, the narrator explains that he hears many things. He says, "Above all was a sense of hearing acute. I heard all things in the heaven and in the earth. I heard many things in hell". Poe suggests the narrator is hearing voices and noises in his mind. This constitutes a disorder of the narrator's mind. Also, the narrator's physical actions while he hears the beating of the heart suggest he is insane. The narrator says, "I paced the floor to and fro with many strides, as if excited to fury by the observation of the men-but the noise steadily increased. Oh God! What could I do? I foamed-I raved-I swore!” The narrator is going mad in his own mind. Poe suggests this because as the narrator is ranting and raving the police are still chatting and smiling. The narrator believes his actions are actually occurring but it is obvious that the swearing, raging, and throwing of the chair are only taking place in his mind. During the act of killing the old man, the narrator says, "I then smiled gaily, to find the deed so far done". The...
