The Protagonists Insanity and Unreliable Narration in Edgar Allan Poes The Tell-Tale Heart

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Focusing on the themes of insanity and morality, this seminar paper examines Edgar Allan Poe's "The Tell-Tale Heart" within the context of the 1843 legal debates surrounding the insanity defense in the U.S. It explores the concept of "moral insanity," which allows for the exoneration of individuals who commit premeditated crimes but lack moral comprehension. The analysis centers on the protagonist's mental state, using the terms "insanity" and "madness" to discuss the implications of moral and partial insanity in the narrative.