The Imp of the Perverse Essay Example

device used by Poe (c. . "tell-tale heart"). Another possible idea present, at the opening of the story is that of the narrator's alienation with the rest of the world. He has no real relationships with anyone, and seems a very lonely, solitary character. This is apparent In the use of violent diction, portraying the self-image of the 'individual versus society'; for example with the use of words like "combativeness", "force" and "self-defense" all give the idea that the narrator is full of hostility and cynicism with regards to the rest of the world.

The theme of perversity, in relation to common ideals on morality is challenged towards the end of the story. Prior to this, perversity is portrayed as something that decidedly leads to 'bad' things happening: particularly murder. However, perversity in this context pushes the narrator to confess his murder, something that is widely perceived as a very good thing to do.But this leads the reader back to idea expressed at the beginning; that perversity is an amoral sense, with no link to religion, or ethics, rather it is an action derived from the knowledge that one shouldn't do it; it is "without comprehensible object".

However it could be argued that this confession does contradict perversity and that he confessed through the guilt that he could live with no longer, thus suggesting that he has now gained a sense of morals. One comparison with the story would be the "Tell Tale Heart".Again in this story the unnamed narrator displays an intelligent pragmatism, for example, in the carefulness with which both characters went about and planned their respective crimes. Both stories try to convey the

sense that they fully know what they intended to do, and put their own lack of motives down to perversity, the idea that they committed the murders because they knew they should not. A possible contrast with the stories is that the ideas about perversity are more coherently expressed by "the Imp.

.. " narrator.