Insane Sanity
Meta ignorance is when an ignorant person is unaware of his or her ignorance, usually leading to serious complexities. The story “Tell Tale Heart” by Edgar Allan Poe is about a man who is unaware of his insanity and believes that his act to murder an old man because of his “evil eye” is justified. Through the story, Edgar Allan Poe aims to raise awareness about the insidious nature of mental conditions and the impact that they can have on the individuals and the community they live in by demonstrating that mentally ill people often deny their mental disorders, have an unstable disposition, and consider their hallucinations as their strong sensory perceptions.
First, Edgar Allan Poe raises awareness about the insidious nature of mental health by showing the mentally ill people’s lack of awareness of their mental disorders. For example, the insane narrator denies his insanity when he justifies his murder by saying, “I think it was his eye! Yes, it was this! One of his eyes resembled that of a vulture—a pale blue eye, with a film over it.” The man describes the old man’s blind eye as an “evil eye” and decides to kill the old man because of the eye. He also clearly denies his insanity by saying “Now is the point. You fancy me mad. Madmen know nothing. But you should have seen me. You should have seen how wisely I proceeded—with what caution—with what foresight —with what dissimulation I went to work!” He knows that everyone considers him as an insane person, yet he claims sanity, which proves the insidious nature of mental illness.
Second, Edgar Allan Poe raises awareness about mental health by showing that mentally ill people are unstable. For example, the narrator first is very calm and confident when he talks to the police officer and says, “I smiled–for what had I to fear? I bade the gentlemen welcome. The shriek, I said, was my own in a dream.” However, soon after he talks with the officers for a little while, he turns very anxious and aggressive and says, “Was it possible they heard not? Almighty God!–no, no! They heard!–they suspected – they knew!–they were making a mockery of my honor!–this I thought, and this I think.” The change from a calm, confident person to an anxious and aggressive person in a matter of minutes demonstrates the narrator’s unstable disposition and proves his insanity. Besides, the narrator first is very kind and helpful when he talks with the old man and says, “Object there was none. Passion there was none. I loved the old man. I loved the old man. He had never wronged me. He had never given me insult. For his gold, I had no desire.” Before he starts to hate his eye and then decides to kill him, he is a kind and helpful person, but soon he turns to a very cruel murderer and says: “I think it was his eyes! Yes, it was this! One of his eyes resembled that of a vulture–a pale blue eye, with a film over it. And I made up my mind to take the life of the old man, and thus rid myself of the eye forever.” The rapid changes in the narrator’s behavior from a kind person to a cruel murderer because of the “blind eye” of the old man and shows that mentally ill people are unstable.
Third, Edgar Allan Poe raises awareness about mental health by showing that mentally ill people consider their hallucinations as their strong sensory perceptions. For example, when the old man is already dead, the narrator can still hear his heartbeat and says, “And now–have I not told you that what you mistake for madness is but over-acuteness of the senses?–now, I say, there came to my ears a low, dull, quick sound, such as a watch makes when enveloped in cotton.” His description of his senses clearly shows that he is a mentally ill person because he considers his hallucinations as his strong sensory perceptions. Also, as he waits at the door of the old man, he describes his senses getting stronger, as “the beating grew louder, louder! I thought the heart must burst. And now a new anxiety seized me–the sound would be heard by a neighbor! The old man’s hour had come! With a loud yell, I threw open the lantern and leaped into the room. He shrieked once–once only.” This vivid description is not that of a healthy person with healthy senses and demonstrates that the narrator is insane. Even when the old man is dead, the narrator can still hear his heartbeat. It proves that mentally ill people consider their hallucinations as their strong sensory perceptions.
In the end, Edgar Allan Poe aims to raise awareness about the insidious nature of mental conditions and the impact that they can have on the individuals and the community they live in by demonstrating that mentally ill people often deny their mental disorders, have an unstable disposition, and consider their hallucinations as their strong sensory perceptions. “Tell-Tale Heart” reminds readers to be aware of their mental health and that of others. In fact, instead of stigmatizing mental illness, people need to immediately see a doctor and seek help. Mental illness can be treated just like physical illness, but it can become a dangerous condition if left untreated and can harm the patient and those around the patient.