When Edgar Allan Poe wrote “The Black Cat” in 1843, the word “paranoia” was not in existence. The mental illness of paranoia was not given its name until the twentieth century. What the narrator is suffering from would be called paranoia today. The definition of paranoia is psychosis marked by delusions and irrational decisions. This definition could best be described in the nineteenth century as being superstitious and believing that supernatural powers are affecting our decisions. …showed first 75 words of 1729 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1729 total…from what is known today as paranoia. Superstition and the supernatural are words that can be seen as a metaphor for paranoia. The narrator becomes superstitious and is controlled by the cat. Throughout the story, the narrator shows common signs of paranoia, such as delusions, irrational actions, and high amounts of anger. Works Cited Poe, Edgar Allan. “The Black Cat.” The Heath Anthology of American Literature. Ed. PaulLauter. Lexington, Massachusetts: DC Heath and Company, 1990. 346-353.