NEED INFO. HOW POE'S CHARACTERS ENDED UP INSANE

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I need information how in Poe's writting his characters go insane, like in tell tale heart and the raven ect. Need to Finish an 15 p. essay, would appriciate any good web site, books, or articles 3/17/03

-- Anonymous, March 17, 2003

Answers

More important than insanity is the mind and soul pushed beyond the conventional into a realm of such high stimulation that- no matter the danger- some sublime experience is achieved, producing art.

That the characters are insane goes to their focussing themselves so intently on the artistic energy of the story(THEIR story) that it becomes more important than anything. Hence no remorse for their victims, obsession with their obsession for its own sake- even to the point of their own self-destruction, mental and physical.

"The Pit and the Pendulum" is a good case of the ordinary man driven by extreme experience to the point of madness yet conquering by problem solving and survival- by the will of choice. other madmen carry their attack all inside themselves or from a bottle(The Black Cat). There is a funny story too "Dr. Tarr and Dr. Feather" where the asylum inmates take over and the guest doesn't catch on. Try www.eapoe.org for starters.

-- Anonymous, March 18, 2003


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