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Like the bad omen of legend, the narrator believes Pluto and his successor have led him down the path toward insanity and immorality

* 19. Januar 1809 in Boston, Massachusetts; † 7. Oktober 1849 in Baltimore, Maryland

Edgar Allan Poe was an American writer, poet, editor, and literary critic. Poe is best known for his poetry and short stories, he also was considered to be the inventor of the detective fiction genre

Body parts are obviously part of the gory, gothic nature of Poe’s world, but eyes are especially noticeable as the medallion of many of the haunting figures in the stories.

The beating heart is another important symbol of the story, representing the continuous uneasiness of the narrator, which he cannot get rid of even after murdering the old man. Throughout the story, the narrator often refers to himself as a wild and uncontrolled creature.

The protagonist of his works shows symptoms of various mental illnesses. Voices from the beyond are often heard, addiction disorders play a role, imagination or hallucinations are also important to characterize his literature.

His works can be traced back to the American era of the Dark Romanticism. Such things like death, werewolves, ghosts and Satan are frequently seen in Gothic literature. Gothic-like literature reached point during the time period of 1800-1950 for example.