Edgar Allan Poe is revered as one of the most brilliant American short story writers in history. He wrote stories that capture the depths of the human mind and descend into the mentality of the severely deranged, as seen in “Tell-Tale Heart” and “The Cask of Amontillado”. Poe tells these stories from the first person perspective, allowing the reader to witness the mental process the characters follow. The reader knows only the reality of the …showed first 75 words of 3323 total…

…showed last 75 words of 3323 total…The Pit and the Pendulum”, but backs away from the idea of the character being extremely deranged or evil, this story focuses on a victim where the wicked deeds are being done to him. Poe analyzes the mental process taken here to illustrate the minds ability to create an escape to retreat from the harsh reality. In short, Poe depicts the abilities of the human Psyche to create the reality in which these characters exist.