Telltale Heart (short story)

"The Tell-Tale Heart," a short story by Edgar Allan Poe, explores themes of madness and guilt. The narrator, who insists on their sanity, becomes obsessed with an old man's eye, which he finds disturbing. Driven by this obsession, he murders the old man and hides the body under the floorboards. However, the narrator's guilt manifests as an imagined heartbeat, growing increasingly loud and unbearable. Ultimately, the pressure of his consciousness leads him to confess the crime. The story delves into the psychological struggle between reason and emotion, highlighting the consequences of guilt and the fragility of sanity.