What does 'heart' in "The Tell-Tale Heart" symbolize?

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In "The Tell-Tale Heart", what does 'heart' symbolize? In "The Cask of Amontillado" what does 'descent' into the 'catacombs' symbolize?

-- Anonymous, June 23, 2000

Answers

heart= fear, his own, not the old man's

-- Anonymous, July 12, 2000

heart = his conscience, me thinks

-- Anonymous, July 26, 2000

I was hoping you can send me your thesis/ summary of this short story by Edgar allan Poes "Tell Tale heart" thanks in advance

-- Anonymous, October 01, 2000

I will soon have a thesis on TellTale Heart so if there is anyone interested just write me...

-- Anonymous, October 18, 2000

the heart symbolizes his fear and guilty conscience for killling hte old man

-- Anonymous, October 21, 2000


The desent into the catacombs symbolizes a descent into hell. Maybe a living hell in which Poe felt trapped his whole life. Good luck with you search!!!!!

-- Anonymous, November 07, 2000

according to my teacher, and I agree with it, the heart represents TIME, and if I remember well there are comparisons between the heart and the a watch ... karolyn

-- Anonymous, January 05, 2001

The heart symbolizes the narrator's conscience. It could also be that he was hearing his own heart beat because he was nervous. Although at the beginning he may seem cocky, he realized later on that he still has a conscience and that he just killed an old man for no reason. After all, he didn't commit the perfect crime.

-- Anonymous, February 04, 2001

First of all, the Heart isn't a "heart", it represents the guilt the character was hiding, Secondly...'descent into the catacombs' symbolizes the descent into Hell.

-- Anonymous, February 08, 2001

The heart is his own id ready to overcome his weak ego and commite a crime....he has neurotic anxiety

lol he has no conscience...there is evidence in the play that shows this view...Conscience is the last thing he has ppl...please reading all these msg about him (OR HER) having a conscience is making me sick

-- Anonymous, January 11, 2003



his heart is a symbol for his heart.

-- Anonymous, May 23, 2004

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