The Tell-Tale Heart

"The Tell-Tale Heart" is a short story by Edgar Allan Poe that explores themes of guilt, madness, and the nature of the human mind. The narrator, who insists he is sane, describes his obsessive hatred for an old man's eye. Driven by this obsession, he meticulously plans and commits murder. Despite his carefulness, he becomes undone by guilt, believing he can hear the dead man's heartbeat. This inner turmoil leads to his confession. The story illustrates how guilt can consume an individual, revealing the complexities of sanity and morality within the human psyche.