Literature: The Tell-Tale Heart (Edgar Allan Poe)

Illustration of "The Tell-Tale Heart" by Harry Clarke, from Edgar Allan Poe's Tales of Mystery and Imagination, 1919.

Illustration of "The Tell-Tale Heart" by Harry Clarke, from Edgar Allan Poe's Tales of Mystery and Imagination, 1919.

Illustration of "The Tell-Tale Heart" by Harry Clarke, from Edgar Allan Poe's Tales of Mystery and Imagination, 1919.

Illustration of "The Tell-Tale Heart" by Harry Clarke, from Edgar Allan Poe's Tales of Mystery and Imagination, 1919.

An illustration for the story The Tell-Tale Heart by the author Edgar Allen Poe

TRUE!-NERVOUS--very,

The disease had sharpened my senses--not destroyed--not dulled them.

The disease had sharpened my senses--not destroyed--not dulled them.

The disease had sharpened my senses--not destroyed--not dulled them.

Above all was the sense of hearing acute.

Hearken! and observe how healthily--how calmly I can tell you the whole story.

Hearken! and observe how healthily--how calmly I can tell you the whole story.

It is impossible to tell how first the idea entered my brain; but once conceived, it haunted me day and night.

It is impossible to tell how first the idea entered my brain; but once conceived, it haunted me day and night.

It is impossible to tell how first the idea entered my brain; but once conceived, it haunted me day and night.

Object there was none.

Passion there was none.

He had never given me insult.

For his gold I had no desire.

One of his eyes resembled that of a vulture--a pale blue eye, with a film over it.

One of his eyes resembled that of a vulture--a pale blue eye, with a film over it.

Whenever it fell upon me, my blood ran cold; and so by degrees--very gradually--I made up my mind to take the life of the old man, and thus rid myself of the eye forever.

You fancy me mad.

You should have seen how wisely I proceeded--with what caution--with what foresight--with what dissimulation I went to work!

You should have seen how wisely I proceeded--with what caution--with what foresight--with what dissimulation I went to work!

You should have seen how wisely I proceeded--with what caution--with what foresight--with what dissimulation I went to work!

You should have seen how wisely I proceeded--with what caution--with what foresight--with what dissimulation I went to work!

And then, when I had made an opening sufficient for my head, I put in a dark lantern, all closed, closed, so that no light shone out, and then I thrust in my head.

And then, when I had made an opening sufficient for my head, I put in a dark lantern, all closed, closed, so that no light shone out, and then I thrust in my head.

I moved it slowly--very, very slowly, so that I might not disturb the old man's sleep.

Ha!--would a madman have been so wise as this?

And then, when my head was well in the room, I undid the lantern cautiously--oh, so cautiously--cautiously (for the hinges creaked)--I undid it just so much that a single thin ray fell upon the vulture eye.

And this I did for seven long nights--every night just at midnight--but I found the eye always closed; and so it was impossible to do the work; for it was not the old man who vexed me, but his Evil Eye.

And every morning, when the day broke, I went boldly into the chamber, and spoke courageously to him, calling him by name in a hearty tone, and inquiring how he had passed the night.

And every morning, when the day broke, I went boldly into the chamber, and spoke courageously to him, calling him by name in a hearty tone, and inquiring how he had passed the night.

And every morning, when the day broke, I went boldly into the chamber, and spoke courageously to him, calling him by name in a hearty tone, and inquiring how he had passed the night.

So you see he would have been a very profound old man, indeed, to suspect that every night, just at twelve, I looked in upon him while he slept.

So you see he would have been a very profound old man, indeed, to suspect that every night, just at twelve, I looked in upon him while he slept.

Upon the eighth night I was more than usually cautious in opening the door.

Never before that night had I felt the extent of my own powers--of my sagacity.

Never before that night had I felt the extent of my own powers--of my sagacity.

I could scarcely contain my feelings of triumph.

I could scarcely contain my feelings of triumph.

I could scarcely contain my feelings of triumph.

To think that there I was, opening the door, little by little, and he not even to dream of my secret deeds or thoughts.

I fairly chuckled at the idea; and perhaps he heard me; for he moved on the bed suddenly, as if startled.

I fairly chuckled at the idea; and perhaps he heard me; for he moved on the bed suddenly, as if startled.

His room was as black as pitch with the thick darkness (for the shutters were close fastened, through fear of robbers), and so I knew that he could not see the opening of the door, and I kept pushing it on steadily, steadily.

For a whole hour I did not move a muscle, and in the meantime I did not hear him lie down.

Presently I heard a slight groan, and I knew it was the groan of mortal terror.

Presently I heard a slight groan, and I knew it was the groan of mortal terror.

Presently I heard a slight groan, and I knew it was the groan of mortal terror.

Presently I heard a slight groan, and I knew it was the groan of mortal terror.

It was not a groan of pain or grief--oh no!--it was the low stifled sound that arises from the bottom of the soul when overcharged with awe.

It was not a groan of pain or grief--oh no!--it was the low stifled sound that arises from the bottom of the soul when overcharged with awe.

It was not a groan of pain or grief--oh no!--it was the low stifled sound that arises from the bottom of the soul when overcharged with awe.

It was not a groan of pain or grief--oh no!--it was the low stifled sound that arises from the bottom of the soul when overcharged with awe.

Many a night, just at midnight, when all the world slept, it has welled up from my own bosom, deepening, with its dreadful echo, the terrors that distracted me.

Many a night, just at midnight, when all the world slept, it has welled up from my own bosom, deepening, with its dreadful echo, the terrors that distracted me.

I knew what the old man felt, and pitied him, although I chuckled at heart.

He had been saying to himself: "It is nothing but the wind in the chimney--it is only a mouse crossing the floor," or "it is merely a cricket which has made a single chirp."

He had been saying to himself: "It is nothing but the wind in the chimney--it is only a mouse crossing the floor," or "it is merely a cricket which has made a single chirp."

He had been saying to himself: "It is nothing but the wind in the chimney--it is only a mouse crossing the floor," or "it is merely a cricket which has made a single chirp."

Yes, he had been trying to comfort himself with these suppositions; but he had found all in vain.

Yes, he had been trying to comfort himself with these suppositions; but he had found all in vain.

Yes, he had been trying to comfort himself with these suppositions; but he had found all in vain.

All in vain; because Death, in approaching him. had stalked with his black shadow before him, and enveloped the victim.

All in vain; because Death, in approaching him. had stalked with his black shadow before him, and enveloped the victim.

All in vain; because Death, in approaching him. had stalked with his black shadow before him, and enveloped the victim.

And it was the mournful influence of the unperceived shadow that caused him to feel--although he neither saw nor heard--to feel the presence of my head within the room.

And it was the mournful influence of the unperceived shadow that caused him to feel--although he neither saw nor heard--to feel the presence of my head within the room.

And it was the mournful influence of the unperceived shadow that caused him to feel--although he neither saw nor heard--to feel the presence of my head within the room.

When I had waited a long time, very patiently, without hearing him lie down, I resolved to open a little--a very, very little crevice in the lantern.

So I opened it--you cannot imagine how stealthily, stealthily--until, at length, a single dim ray, like the thread of the spider, shot from out the crevice and full upon the vulture eye.

So I opened it--you cannot imagine how stealthily, stealthily--until, at length, a single dim ray, like the thread of the spider, shot from out the crevice and full upon the vulture eye.

So I opened it--you cannot imagine how stealthily, stealthily--until, at length, a single dim ray, like the thread of the spider, shot from out the crevice and full upon the vulture eye.

So I opened it--you cannot imagine how stealthily, stealthily--until, at length, a single dim ray, like the thread of the spider, shot from out the crevice and full upon the vulture eye.

So I opened it--you cannot imagine how stealthily, stealthily--until, at length, a single dim ray, like the thread of the spider, shot from out the crevice and full upon the vulture eye.

It was open--wide, wide open--and I grew furious as I gazed upon it.

It was open--wide, wide open--and I grew furious as I gazed upon it.

I saw it with perfect distinctness--all a dull blue, with a hideous veil over it that chilled the very marrow in my bones; but I could see nothing else of the old man's face or person: for I had directed the ray, as if by instinct, precisely upon the damned spot.

I saw it with perfect distinctness--all a dull blue, with a hideous veil over it that chilled the very marrow in my bones; but I could see nothing else of the old man's face or person: for I had directed the ray, as if by instinct, precisely upon the damned spot.

I saw it with perfect distinctness--all a dull blue, with a hideous veil over it that chilled the very marrow in my bones; but I could see nothing else of the old man's face or person: for I had directed the ray, as if by instinct, precisely upon the damned spot.

I saw it with perfect distinctness--all a dull blue, with a hideous veil over it that chilled the very marrow in my bones; but I could see nothing else of the old man's face or person: for I had directed the ray, as if by instinct, precisely upon the damned spot.

I saw it with perfect distinctness--all a dull blue, with a hideous veil over it that chilled the very marrow in my bones; but I could see nothing else of the old man's face or person: for I had directed the ray, as if by instinct, precisely upon the damned spot.

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.

It increased my fury, as the beating of a drum stimulates the soldier into courage.

It increased my fury, as the beating of a drum stimulates the soldier into courage.

It increased my fury, as the beating of a drum stimulates the soldier into courage.

It increased my fury, as the beating of a drum stimulates the soldier into courage.

But even yet I refrained and kept still.

I tried how steadily I could maintain the ray upon the eye.

Meantime the hellish tattoo of the heart increased.

It grew quicker and quicker' and louder and louder every instant.

The old man's terror must have been extreme!

And now at the dead hour of night, amid the dreadful silence of that old house, so strange a noise as this excited me to uncontrollable terror.

I thought the heart must burst.

And now a new anxiety seized me--the sound would be heard by a neighbor!

And now a new anxiety seized me--the sound would be heard by a neighbor!

And now a new anxiety seized me--the sound would be heard by a neighbor!

With a loud yell, I threw open the lantern and leaped into the room.

He shrieked once--once only.

But, for many minutes, the heart beat on with a muffled sound.

This, however, did not vex me; it would not be heard through the wall.

At length it ceased.

I removed the bed and examined the corpse.

I removed the bed and examined the corpse.

I removed the bed and examined the corpse.

If still you think me mad, you will think so no longer when I describe the wise precautions I took for the concealment of the body.

If still you think me mad, you will think so no longer when I describe the wise precautions I took for the concealment of the body.

First of all I dismembered the corpse.

I then replaced the boards so cleverly, so cunningly, that no human eye--not even his--could have detected anything wrong.

I then replaced the boards so cleverly, so cunningly, that no human eye--not even his--could have detected anything wrong.

I had been too wary for that.

When I had made an end of these labors, it was four o'clock--still dark as midnight.

There entered three men, who introduced themselves, with perfect suavity, as officers of the police.

There entered three men, who introduced themselves, with perfect suavity, as officers of the police.

A shriek had been heard by a neighbor during the night: suspicion of foul play had been aroused; information had been lodged at the police office, and they (the officers) had been deputed to search the premises.

A shriek had been heard by a neighbor during the night: suspicion of foul play had been aroused; information had been lodged at the police office, and they (the officers) had been deputed to search the premises.

A shriek had been heard by a neighbor during the night: suspicion of foul play had been aroused; information had been lodged at the police office, and they (the officers) had been deputed to search the premises.

A shriek had been heard by a neighbor during the night: suspicion of foul play had been aroused; information had been lodged at the police office, and they (the officers) had been deputed to search the premises.

A shriek had been heard by a neighbor during the night: suspicion of foul play had been aroused; information had been lodged at the police office, and they (the officers) had been deputed to search the premises.

The old man, I mentioned, was absent in the country.

The old man, I mentioned, was absent in the country.

I showed them his treasures, secure, undisturbed.

I showed them his treasures, secure, undisturbed.

In the enthusiasm of my confidence, I brought chairs into the room, and desired them here to rest from their fatigues, while I myself, in the wild audacity of my perfect triumph, placed my own seat upon the very spot beneath which reposed the corpse of the victim.

In the enthusiasm of my confidence, I brought chairs into the room, and desired them here to rest from their fatigues, while I myself, in the wild audacity of my perfect triumph, placed my own seat upon the very spot beneath which reposed the corpse of the victim.

In the enthusiasm of my confidence, I brought chairs into the room, and desired them here to rest from their fatigues, while I myself, in the wild audacity of my perfect triumph, placed my own seat upon the very spot beneath which reposed the corpse of the victim.

In the enthusiasm of my confidence, I brought chairs into the room, and desired them here to rest from their fatigues, while I myself, in the wild audacity of my perfect triumph, placed my own seat upon the very spot beneath which reposed the corpse of the victim.

In the enthusiasm of my confidence, I brought chairs into the room, and desired them here to rest from their fatigues, while I myself, in the wild audacity of my perfect triumph, placed my own seat upon the very spot beneath which reposed the corpse of the victim.

The officers were satisfied.

My manner had convinced them.

I was singularly at ease.

The ringing became more distinct:--it continued and became more distinct: I talked more freely to get rid of the feeling: but it continued and gained definiteness--until, at length, I found that the noise was not within my ears.

The ringing became more distinct:--it continued and became more distinct: I talked more freely to get rid of the feeling: but it continued and gained definiteness--until, at length, I found that the noise was not within my ears.

No doubt I now grew very pale,--but I talked more fluently, and with a heightened voice.

I talked more quickly--more vehemently; but the noise steadily increased.

I paced the floor to and fro with heavy strides, as if excited to fury by the observation of the men--but the noise steadily increased.

I paced the floor to and fro with heavy strides, as if excited to fury by the observation of the men--but the noise steadily increased.

I foamed--I raved--I swore!

I swung the chair upon which I had been sitting, and grated it upon the boards, but the noise arose over all and continually increased.

Was it possible they heard not?

They heard!--they suspected--they knew!--they were making a mockery of my horror!--this I thought, and this I think.

But anything was better than this agony!

Anything was more tolerable than this derision!

I could bear those hypocritical smiles no longer!

I felt that I must scream or die!--and now--again!--hark! louder! louder! louder!

"Villains!"

I admit the deed!--tear up the planks!--here, here!--it is the beating of his hideous heart!"