The Black Cat

The Black Cat 
Edger Allan Poe

About the auther:

        Edgar Allan Poe ( born Edgar Poe; January 19, 1809 – October 7, 1849) was an American writer, editor, and literary critic. Poe is best known for his poetry and short stories, particularly his tales of mystery and the macabre. He is widely regarded as a central figure of Romanticism in the United States and American literature as a whole, and he was one of the country's earliest practitioners of the short story. Poe is generally considered the inventor of the detective fiction genre and is further credited with contributing to the emerging genre of science fiction.He was the first well-known American writer to try to earn a living through writing alone, resulting in a financially difficult life and career.

Summery of "The Black Cat":

         On the eve of his death, an unnamed narrator opens this story by proclaiming that he is sane, despite the wild narrative he is about to convey. This narrative begins years before, when the narrative begins year before when the narrator's honorable character is well known and celebrated. He confesses a great love for cats and dogs , both of which he says, respect the fidelity of friendship, unlike fellow man. The narrator marries at a young age and introduce his wife to the domestic joys of owning pets. Among birds, goldfish, a dog, rabbits and a monkey, the narrator single out a large and beautiful cat, named Pluto as his favorite.

                  Though he loves Pluto, the narrator begins to suffer from violent mood swings predominantly due to the influence  alcohol. He takes to mistreating not only the other animals but also his wife. during this uncontrollable rage, he spares only Pluto . After returning  home quite drunk one night the narrator lashes out at Pluto. Believing the cat has avoided him, he vengefully grasps the cat has avoided him, he vengefully grasps the cat , only to be bitten on the hand.  In demonic retaliation, the narrator pulls a penknife from his  pocket and cuts out one of the cat's eyes. Though the narrator wakes the next morning with a partial feeling of remorse, he is unable to reverse the newly ominous course of his  black soul. Ignored for certain now by the wounded cat, the narrator soon seeks further retaliation. He is overwhelmed by a spirit of perverseness , and sets out  to commit wrong. He hangs Pluto from the limb of a tree one morning.

                    One night of Pluto's hanging , the narrator's family's house burn down , but he dismisses the possibility of a connection between the two events. The  day after the fire which destroys all the narrator's possession, he witnesses a group of neighbors collective around a wall that remains standing. Investigating their shout of amazement the narrator discover the impression of a gigantic cat with a rope around its neck on the surface of the wall . The narrator attempts to explain rationally the existence of the impression, but he finds himself haunted by this phantasm over the course of many months. One night while out drunk, the narrator discourse a black object poised upon a large barrel of alcohol . A new black cat has appeared , resembling Pluto but with a splash of white on his fur.

                  As with Pluto the narrator experiences a great fondness for the mysterious cat, which no one has seen before , the cat become part of the household , much adored by his wife as well. However following the earlier pattern the narrator soon can not resist feeling of hatred for the cat. These murderous sentiments intensity when the narrator discover that the cat's splash of white fur has mysteriously taken on the shape of the gallows the structure on which a hanging takes place. The white fur reveals the mode of execution that claimed Pluto and the narrator pledges revenge.

                    One day descending into the cellar of the building with the narrator almost trips over the cat.Enlarged the narrator grabs an axe to attack the cat , but his wife defends the animal. Further angered by this interference, the narrator turn his rage at his wife and buries the axe in her head. Faced with the evidence of his crime, the narrator evidence of his crime , the narrator considers many option fore the body's disposal, including dismemberment and burial. The narrator eventually decided to take advantage of the damp wall in the basement and the body behind their plaster, without any difficulty the narrator creates a tomb in the plaster wall thereby hiding the body and alliterates of her his murder. When he finally turns to the cat it is missing, and he concludes that it has been frightened away by his anger.

                 On the fourth day after the murder, the police arrive unexpectedly at the narrator's apartment. Cool and collected, the narrator leads them through the premises, even into the basement. Though facing the scene of the crime, the police do not demonstrate any curiosity and prepare to leave the residence . the narrator, however, keeps trying to allay their suspicion. Commenting upon the solid craftsmanship of the house, house on the wall behind which is his wife's body with a cane. In response to the tapping, a long loud cry emanates from behind the wall. the police storm the wall and dismantle it, discovering the hidden corpse. upon its head sits the missing cat.