Student Question

What is the single effect in Edgar Allan Poe's "The Black Cat"?

Quick answer:

The answer is not in the text, but in the reader's personal schema. This technique is used to create a response in the reader which will make him or her feel disgust for this character, and like this character must be punished. The story continues to develop until the reader feels no other option but to see that punishment of this character is created by reading it through to its end. Next, Poe begins to connect the dots and gives us insight into the psychology of how these events came about. We understand it...and we want it told because of our aversion and repulsion for this person whom we now view as evil. "The Black Cat"

Expert Answers

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This depends on the perspective and personal schema of the reader, but one single effect that The Black Cat tends to produce is aversion. The man, who in the beginning of the story is a lover of animals and has a special connection with this black cat, Pluto, presents himself to us sweetly and kindly. It is the type of character that we all want to read about. Like a nice and welcoming dessert, we gobble him up well.

Then, the problem begins. The character's naturally sweet and healthy nature suddenly and radically turns evil, tortures his cat Pluto, and then kills him. This is a somewhat disgusting turn of events, and the sudden nature of it makes the reader literally feel as if we'd like to "throw up" the character who once made us feel warm and fuzzy and now is revolting and cruel, and evil.

As he progresses...

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with his insanity and the nature of his actions begin to create consequences, we are more and more disgusted by this character, and we want to see him eliminated. The change in perspective from beginning to end is so radical that there is no other way to feel but a sense of aversion against him.

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