Edgar Allen Poe Essay Example

his id, ego and superego.

The id, if left unchecked, could potentially cause damage within the consciousness, thus the necessity for the ego and superego to establish equilibrium. The ego is described as the "judicious control center of the psyche" (Guerin 126). Its function is to manage and curb the impulses of the id to promote “non-destructive behaviour patterns”. As Freud eloquently put it, "the ego symbolizes reason and prudence while the id represents unbridled passions" (Guerin 126). Contrasting with the id is the superego, characterized by its moral leanings and alignment with doing what is considered right.

The super ego endeavors for excellence. It's crucial to have an understanding of the three segments of the psyche because it could result in self demolition if any of these three controlling factors of the mind were to amplify. In discussing the relationship between the id, ego and super ego, Freud made the observation: “The id could be perceived as making us devils, the super ego as driving us to act like angels (or even worse, absolute social conformists) and it is up to the ego to ensure we remain healthy individuals by creating a balance between these conflicting forces” (Guerin 127).

The critical stability of this particular psyche plays a pivotal role in achieving a healthy and functioning mindset. This applies to 'The Black Cat' where at first, the storyteller seems to possess a harmonious psyche, exhibiting behavior typical of an average person. He is kind to his wife and pets, especially the black cat he treasures most. Nevertheless, as the narrative progresses, we witness a drastic change in his demeanor. A certain disturbance occurred within his mind which

led to the dominance of his id over the ego and superego, disrupting the balance. This overwhelming influence of the id enabled him to act on impulse effortlessly.

The reader's initial exposure to the anomalous conduct is when the protagonist returns home inebriated. He experiences a sense of alienation from his cherished pet cat, which leads him to extreme actions like excising its eye. Perhaps more distressing, he later succumbs to uninhibited id-driven instincts and kills his spouse. Freud also remarked on psychodynamic views. Bruce (2) quoted him saying, "Psychodynamic theories concentrate on the determining forces of conscious and unconscious factors in molding human behavior and relationships." Psychodynamic theories fall under the umbrella of abnormal psychology, also known as psychopathology.

The field of psychopathology involves exploring mental conditions influencing an individual's cognition, communication, emotions, and actions (Bruce 1). Freud offered his unique perspective on these theories, formulating the concept that an individual's internal conflicts between inherent biological impulses and societal norms culminate in aberrant behavior (Bruce 2). The significance of Sigmund Freud's theories is evident in their application to Poe's protagonist in The Black Cat, who has subconsciously repressed his hostile sentiments towards people. This unconscious cognitive process engendering human behavior is fundamentally what Freud's doctrines are grounded on.

It is crucial to comprehend the workings of one's mind to scrutinize one's actions. Such comprehension holds significance in The Black Cat where the narrator, from the beginning, exhibits his immense affection for animals, prioritizing them above humans. As the narrator unfolds the tale, the reader discovers he is on death row for his wife's homicide (Piacentino 2). Gerard Genette, a French analyst who focuses on narrative theory, observed

"narration often divulges less than it encompasses, yet it frequently reveals more than it expresses" (Piacentino 2). This holds true for the autobiographical narrative of The Black Cat.

While the storyteller attempts to portray an image of tranquility and self-discipline, his escalating verbosity betrays his mental instability. He gives explanations for his previous actions and references experiences from his youth. By the completion of the narrative, the protagonist unveils himself as a cruel aggressor towards both animals and humans. He acknowledges his irritable, challenging, and moody demeanor, and is likely incarcerated for the gruesome killing of his spouse following the violent harming and extinction of several animals.

Contrary to what we might expect from the described character of the narrator, it's surprising to learn that as a youngster, he was gentle, compassionate, timid, and passionate, being a universal friend to all creatures and pets. The narrator recounts his childhood persona as someone who was remarkably amiable and humane since his early days. His unusually affectionate nature was so evident that it often made him the subject of his peers' ridicule. He had a particular affection for animals and was bestowed with a plethora of pets by his parents. The bulk of his time was spent with these pets, and nothing gave him more joy than feeding and pampering them.

This unique personality trait developed alongside my growth and, in my adulthood, it became one of my main joys. To those who have held a deep emotional connection with a loyal and intelligent dog, I hardly need to elaborate on the kind and level of satisfaction derived from this relationship. There's something about the selfless, sacrificing love of

an animal that reaches the core of one who has often experienced the trivial companionship and fragile loyalty of fellow humans (Poe 319).

The text suggests that from an early age, the storyteller had a stronger connection with animals than with humans. He regards his extraordinary love for animals as usual conduct. Gargano notes the narrator's over-the-top emotional responses and his intense pleasure in caring for his pets as signs of an excessively indulgent aspect of his personality (Piacentino 1). Poe's narrator substitutes relationships with people for those with animals, demonstrating unusual behavior.

It is interesting how the storyteller subconsciously values animal company over human interactions. It's uncertain how long this has been the case, as per the reader’s understanding, but his wife's murder seems to connect with his sensitivity during his early years (Piacentino 4). As per his own disclosure, the storyteller's parents pampered him with numerous pet animals (Poe 319). It's probable that he views his pets as secure, unlike his human equals. He can trust them with his secrets, and they are unable to contradict him. This might be seen as a coping strategy.

Robert B. Ewen defines it as a process where emotions or actions are unconsciously shifted from a menacing object to a less threatening one" (Piacentino 5). The storyteller and his spouse owned several pets, the storytellers's pet of choice being a black feline named Pluto. Pluto is affectionate, loyal and a companion to his owner, demonstrating all the attributes of friendship that other people failed to show the storyteller. Unfortunately, Pluto’s amiable demeanor changes as the storyteller’s personality begins to shift (Piacentino 5). As previously noted, in an episode of drunkenness,

the storyteller acted violently towards Pluto.

The importance of this lies in the fact that it triggers a fresh conduct pattern that will subsequently manifest in his wife's murder (Piacentino 5). This harks back to Freud's model of the id, ego, and superego (Guerin 127). It is at this juncture that the reader can begin to perceive the narrator's id gaining excessive dominance. Following the demise of Pluto, another cat begins to emerge. The narrator quickly develops an affection for this subsequent cat, describing it as "precisely the entity I was seeking" (Poe 323). He adopts the cat and informs the reader that "it instantaneously became my wife's beloved pet" (Poe 323).

The narrator, after revealing to the reader, begins to develop a dislike for the new cat, which soon escalates into hatred (Piacentino 5). This provokes the reader to question 'why does the narrator despise the cat?' It's plausible that the narrator's hatred for the cat intensifies as his wife grows fond of it. Ed Piacentino implies that the narrator feels slighted by his wife who is showering "unconditional love on the cat, mirroring the kind of attention and affection he used to receive from animals" (Piacentino 5). Subliminally, the narrator harbors jealousy over his wife's ability to express such love for animals.

Emotions he once held but can no longer grasp. His existence in the human realm is of discomfort, once finding solace in the companionship of animals. Following a significant alteration in his temperament, he is rendered incapable of relying on anyone, feeling ostracized from both animal kingdom and human society, his wife included. His wife perceives his aversion towards the cat, initiating efforts to

alter his perspective by highlighting the small white mark on the cat's torso. He interprets this patch of white fur as a symbol of gallows. The more she mentions the feline, the more he perceives her actions as deliberate provocations.

The narrator, on a subconscious plane, likens his relentless habits to those of his childhood acquaintances who once ridiculed him. This underlying discomfort stems from his life devoid of human companionship, which now extends to his own spouse. The significance of this lies at the story's peak: his wife's murder. In the text immediately preceding the murder, he confesses that his sullen disposition escalates into despising everything and everyone (Poe 325).

It's possible he wasn't cognizant, but his whole life, he was subconsciously experiencing these feelings, including towards his wife (Piacentino 7). His wife's murder was a result of repressed subconscious emotions stemming from his childhood trauma (Piacentino 7). The act of him killing his wife symbolized a rejection of his childhood loneliness, a subconscious burden he had carried throughout his life. This leads back to an overly dominant id that couldn't achieve a balance with an ego and superego.

Upon the release of the id, the narrator found it impossible to repress his subconscious senses of human disregard. He began to act upon instincts instead of thoughtful reasoning, and his conduct promptly turned hostile and damaging. His parents unknowing contribution of showering him with numerous pets during childhood instead of promoting personal interactions with other kids laid the foundations for prospective devastation. For the narrator, such devastation would translate into a never-ending cycle of solitude, bewilderment, and an unconscious loathing for humanity, eventually leading to his wife's

homicide.

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