The Black Cat: I’s Violence Behavior

The Black Cat, written by Edgar Allan Poe, is a story about a man who lives with his wife and their pets. I, that’s how the story addresses the man, speaks about his special feelings for other living creature since he was a child. That particular living creature is animals. I and his wife shared the same passion for animals and own more than one pet. From a pet that flies, swims to pets that walk on land. However, there will always be a favorite, and I’s favorite is an all black cat named Pluto. Few years passed, the man changed. He shifted to a heartless, hotheaded, and cold man towards his wife and pets. The man unveiling his story like an open letter to the readers. But, why did he change? What exactly that changed him?

Once “I” was a nice person and a loving pet owner. Animals has always had a special place in his heart. He shows gratitude for pets because of how loyal they are. Even when he knows he shared the same passion with his wife, he was full with joy. Married young and own many pets. He was very loving back then. Unfortunately, alcohol came. A friend and enemy as one. The man chose alcohol and dared to slash and tore out one of Pluto’s eye, just because he thought the cat stopped liking him. Later on, he even take the life of his dearest cat and wife. Hide them inside his cellar stone walls.

“There is something in the love of these animals which speaks directly to the heart of the man who has learned from experience how uncertain and changeable is the love of other men.” (p. 34)

“I” gave this hint at the very beginning of his storytelling. He had a bad experience on something, or someone, that made him to be an animals lover. This could be the reason why consuming alcohol changed him to a vicious person. Maybe a past trauma that could not be bare any longer. The alcohol started to reveal his true emotions on past experience. Maybe the marriage was loveless. Readers could not find “I” being a romantic in his story. At least not a romantic story between him and his wife, but him and his black cat. He never said he loves his wife, he didn’t even project his sorry when he put a knife inside her heart, but he did hang his cat out of love the way he teared up while doing so. He was only glad of the marriage because she shared his love for animals.

“however, my own character became greatly changed. I began to drink too much wine and other strong drinks.” (p.35)

The intoxicated side of “I” encouraged his anger that has been piled up to burst. He then became more sensitive than ever. The smallest problems became the biggest and he got irritated easily. When he slashed, tore out his favorite cat’s eye, and then hanged the cat, he lost control to the alcohol. Soon after, he felt bad of what he had done and that burdened him more. Nevertheless, he was back with alcohol consumption and the black-hearted man’s next victim was his wife.

“As the days passed I became less loving in my manner; I became quick to anger; I forgot how to smile and laugh.” (p. 35)

This story is told by the narrator right before he was about to die. He recalled himself when he was in a bad situation. There are reasons behind why a nice person changed into a bad person. In the case of the story “The Black Cat” by Edgar Allan Poe, the narrator’s unfinished emotions from a past bad experience piled up and the alcohol corrupted his happiness and even his love for his innocent pets. Made him did the unthinkable and cruel things.