The narrator in the story “The Black Cat” commits a crime by killing his black cat, Pluto. He does so because he is angry at Pluto for scratching him. The narrator also believes that Pluto is responsible for some of the bad luck that he has been experiencing.
Summary of the Story “The Black Cat” by Edgar Allan Poe
In the story, “The Black Cat,” the narrator, who is never named, tells the story of how he became a murderer. The narrator is an alcoholic who becomes increasingly violent and abusive toward his wife and pets. He becomes particularly violent toward his black cat, Pluto. One night, in a drunken rage, the narrator kills Pluto with a knife.
The narrator tries to hide the body, but it’s eventually discovered. He then tries to kill his wife, but she manages to get away and alerts the authorities. The narrator is arrested and sentenced to death. In his final moments, he reveals that he has also killed his wife’s white cat, Nimrod.
The Narrator’s Initial Love for Animals
The narrator in the black cat begins by loving animals, but this love turns to anger and violence as he becomes more and more maddened. It’s not entirely clear what crime the narrator commits, but it’s possible that he kills his animals as part of some kind of dark ritual.
The narrator’s love for animals is clear from the beginning. He talks about how much he enjoys their company, and he seems to genuinely care for them. However, this love turns to anger and violence as the narrator becomes more and more maddened. The narrator seems to think that animals are a representation of purity and innocence, and he becomes angered by their apparent defiance of him.
It’s not entirely clear what crime the narrator commits, but it’s possible that he kills his animals as part of some kind of dark ritual. The narrator seems to enjoy the act of killing, and he takes great pleasure in seeing his animals suffer. It’s possible that the narrator sees the animals as a way to punish himself, or that he sees them as a representation of the evil that’s taken over his life.
The Descent into Alcoholism and Violence
The narrator in “The Black Cat” commits a number of crimes, the most serious of which is murder. He also commits crimes such as animal cruelty, arson, and vandalism.
The narrator starts out by killing his wife’s cat, Pluto. He does this because he is angry at his wife for refusing to have a child. He later kills his wife, also out of anger. He then burns down his house, presumably to cover up his crimes. Finally, he vandalizes his own grave.
All of these crimes are a result of the narrator’s descent into alcoholism and violence. The narrator’s alcoholism leads to him becoming angry and violent, which in turn leads to him committing these crimes.
The Narrator’s Crimes Against His Pets
The narrator in “The Black Cat” commits several crimes against his pets, the most severe of which is murder. He first abuses his cat, Pluto, by kicking him and whipping him with a rope. He then hangs Pluto from a beam in the basement, leading to the cat’s death.
The narrator also abuses his dog, fiendishly whipping the animal and even tying a noose around its neck. Ultimately, he hangs the dog from the same beam as Pluto.
The narrator’s final act of cruelty is the murder of his wife. He bludgeons her to death with a mallet and then hanged her body from the same beam.
The Discovery of the Ultimate Crime
In “The Black Cat” the narrator confesses to a series of crimes, the ultimate of which is murder. The narrator is not sure why he committed these crimes, but he may have been motivated by the belief that he was possessed by the devil.
The narrator claims that he first killed his wife’s cat, Pluto, because the cat irritated him. He then killed his wife, partly because she was angry about Pluto’s death. The narrator also admits to killing several other people, including his friend, Emeline.
The narrator’s crimes are finally discovered when he is caught trying to kill his own cat, Satan. The police arrest him and he is sent to prison.
The Psychological and Moral Themes in “The Black Cat”
The psychological and moral themes in “The Black Cat” center around the narrator’s gradual descent into madness. The narrator seems to be a normal, average person at the beginning of the story, but he gradually becomes more and more unhinged as the story progresses. The reader is never quite sure what crime the narrator has actually committed, but it is clear that he is a deeply disturbed person.
The most obvious theme in “The Black Cat” is the danger of descending into madness. The narrator starts out as a perfectly normal person, but he gradually becomes more and more unhinged. This descent into madness leads him to commit terrible crimes, and it eventually costs him his life.
Another theme in “The Black Cat” is the danger of repressing emotions. The narrator tries to suppress his fear and guilt, but these emotions eventually catch up with him. This leads to his downfall, as his repressed emotions eventually drive him mad.
Finally, the story explores the consequences of committing terrible crimes. The narrator commits some of the most heinous crimes imaginable, and he eventually pays for these crimes with his life. This shows that there are always consequences to our actions, even if we manage to get away with them for a while.
