Revival and Spiritual Awakening in Edgar Allan Poe's 'The Tell-Tale Heart' and 'The Black Cat'

Abstract

Objectives: Edgar Allan Poe (1809- 1849) is credited with the creation of the detective story. However, his tales have not been extensively researched, especially in areas such as religiosity and spirituality. This paper aims to delve into these deeply-embedded areas and explore the neglected themes within Poe's works. The objective is to uncover the religious experiences that some of Poe's protagonists undergo. Methods: Employing an intrinsic approach, this study demonstrates that the protagonists in Poe's "The Tell-Tale Heart" and "The Black Cat" experience spiritual growth and awakening after losing their proper orientation and going astray. These characters do not appear to be true believers, as they do not believe in the existence of God. However, after facing a crisis resulting from committing a crime, God suddenly becomes apparent to them. Results: Therefore, the present study focuses on analyzing the gothic setting, inner conflict, symbols, and narrative techniques in Poe’s two stories. It aims to highlight the significance of the psychological turmoil experienced by the two protagonists, which ultimately leads to their spiritual awakening. Conclusions: Under the weight of guilt and remorse, the two protagonists begin to perceive existence in a new light, as revealed through their monologues. They express a need for spiritual revival.