The Black CatThe Black Cat

By Edgar Allan PoeBy Edgar Allan Poe

The Narrator as a Youth /The Narrator as a Youth /Young ManYoung Man

Personality: Tenderness of heartPersonality: Tenderness of heart

Disposition: Docile, gentle, humaneDisposition: Docile, gentle, humane

Friends: Had some; they joked about Friends: Had some; they joked about his tender-heartednesshis tender-heartedness

Early IssuesEarly Issues

He MISTRUSTED PEOPLE He MISTRUSTED PEOPLE even as a young man even as a young man thought animals were more thought animals were more

trustworthy!trustworthy!

The Narrator as a Youth/The Narrator as a Youth/Young ManYoung Man

Marriage: Wife had the same likes as Marriage: Wife had the same likes as he did, esp. for animalshe did, esp. for animals

Pets: Birds, goldfish, dog, rabbit, Pets: Birds, goldfish, dog, rabbit, monkey, catmonkey, cat

Changes in the NarratorChanges in the NarratorPersonaliPersonali

tytyDispositiDispositi

ononFriendsFriendsMarriageMarriagePetsPets

Alcoh

o

l

Narrator and WifeNarrator and Wife

He treated her withHe treated her with

Intemperate languageIntemperate language

Personal violencePersonal violence

Narrator & PlutoNarrator & Pluto

FIRE!FIRE!

I approached and saw, as if graven in bas relief upon the white surface, the figure of a gigantic cat. 

After the FireAfter the FireChanges in LifestyleChanges in Lifestyle

After the After the FireFire

The Second CatThe Second Cat

A Wife’s Revenge?A Wife’s Revenge?

Women & marriage in early 1800sWomen & marriage in early 1800sPower of suggestionPower of suggestionRepressed/dulled guiltRepressed/dulled guilt

Final DownfallFinal Downfall

A Cat’s Revenge?A Cat’s Revenge?

What Goes Around Comes What Goes Around Comes AroundAround

Poe, Catarina, and VirginiaPoe, Catarina, and Virginia