"The ringing became more distinct:-I talked more freely to get rid of the feeling: but it continued and gained defectiveness- until, at length, I found that the noise was not within my ears."(Edgar Allan Poe: The Tell-Tale Heart) ... Is the ringing really ringing? Or is it his conscience slowly eating away at his already deranged mind? After his well-thought plan was completed, the only sane part of his mind was shown through. Like others, his guilty conscience finally broke him after his inexcusable deed.
The old man he lived with, did nothing wrong. It was only his eye that set the man into a crazed hate for him. The man could stand the eye, so naturally, he did what any insane person would do. The man had his idea of the perfect plan to exterminate the man and his haunting eye. He watched every night and monitored the man so stealthily so he would never disturb the old man. Except for the one fatal night when the old man woke. The man could no longer hold in his angst, and ended the man's life. And cleverly put the remains under the floor boards of the house. Nonetheless, the man was very proud of his accomplishments.
Now, most people would have been surprised or even shocked at what they had just committed. Killing a person can make you go more insane than you were in the first place. But not this man, he was all to content with his actions and proceeded to test out his adept murder. He invited police men over to test his master mind killing. He succeeded undoubtedly. "They sat, and while I answered cheerily, they chatted of familiar things. ...My head ached and I fancied a ringing in my ears: but they sat and still chatted." Unfortunately his mind played tricks on him, deceiving his perception of hearing and mental stability. The beating was his guilty mind speaking with him.
