Mariam Waggeh

FIQWS 1008

Sonja Killbrew/Alyssa Yankwitt

Exploratory Essay

 

               Exploring The Black Cat and Freud’s Theories

 

‘The Black Cat’ is a short story written by Edgar Allan Poe in which, tells the tale of a man who retells the story of what led him to where he is. He states that he isn’t mentally disturbed and that readers may or may not believe him but that isn’t his point of telling the story. He then goes on to tell how his alcoholism influenced his behavior, which led to him killing those whom he loved; his wife and cat. Sigmund Freud’s psychoanalytic theories can be found throughout these texts. “The Black Cat” explicitly reflects Freud’s psychoanalytic views of the unconscious mind and displacement based upon the behaviors and action of the narrator.

 

    Freud describes the unconscious mind as a mental process in which one is influenced through their judgement, behavior, or feelings. One may also take into consideration that past experiences and are also an influence upon the unconscious. In Poes text, the narrator recalls his upbringing in character and how his parents influenced his love for animals by surrounding him with a wide variety of pets. The text states, “In my infancy I was noted for the docility and humanity of my disposition. My tenderness of heart was even so conspicuous as to make me the jest of my companions. I was especially fond of animals, and was indulged by my parents with a great variety of pets. With these I spent most of my time, and never was so happy as when feeding and caressing them.” (Allan Poe,Edgar. “The Black Cat” 1843). Bringing to light Freud’s theory of how one’s feelings can be influenced by their past experiences. In the context of the story the narrators influence or past experience is his parents surrounding him, around animals in which he cared for. Thus unconsciously causing him to become what he described as being “the jest” of his group of friends or having the nature of a person who is caring or loving. This theory is continued to be implemented, “For Pluto however, I still refrained sufficient regard to restrain me from maltreating him..”(Allan Poe,Edgar. “The Black Cat” 1843). Supporting the sense that one’s past experience influences their decisions later on in life whether sound or not. As the narrator states he is unable to understand as to why he is able to physically attack those around him whom he claimed to love, in his drunken state of which he is unable to make clear understanding of what he is doing, but for a long period of time there’s a force (lying in his unconscious) that makes him unable to inflict physical harm upon the cat. Overall, supporting the underlying theory of the unconscious mind of a person, in the sense where one is able to be influenced in their actions and behavior without realizing it. Supporting that we make our daily decisions based upon these upbringings and we don’t necessarily reflect as to why. In some cases one may not even be able to bring about the root as to why they take upon these behaviors in day to day life.

 

    Furthermore, another if Freud’s theories; displacement, the minds substitution of a new aim or object for goals in which is deemed as more appropriate or acceptable. When applying this theory to the story, an instance of displacement can be bought upon the narrator’s wife and the cat. After the assassination of his wife the narrator begins to use phrases such as ‘beast’, ‘monster’, and ‘creature’. He also noticeably begins to claim that he is free after waiting for “it” to come back and seek its vengeance. Another detail also to be taken into account is the distinction between how he feels after he kills the cat and after he kills his wife. The narrator explicitly admits that he had no sense of remorse after his wife’s death but held a constant weight of guilt for the murder of the cat. As stated in the text, “For months I could not rid myself of the phantasm of the cat, and during this period there came back into my spirit a half-sentiment that seemed but was not remorse. I went so far as to regret the loss of the animal, and to look about me the vile haunts which I now habitually frequented for another pet of the same species, and of somewhat similar appearance, with which to supply its place.”(Allan Poe,Edgar. “The Black Cat” 1843). Showing that the narrator showed some form of regret towards his actions of killing the cat to the extent in which he wanted an exact replica to take its place. Which could possibly hint at a sense of belief that the animal did not deserve to have the aggression exerted onto it. Displaying the connection to displacement, where at that point in the story the narrator may have believed it was inappropriate to kill his wife whom his hatred was truly rooted towards, so he convinced himself that if he did kill the cat then maybe exerting the energy towards the animal would cause the feeling to go away. But then he discovered that although he may have shifted his goal unto a new object he still was unable to satisfy it. Furthermore the text states, “When I had finished I felt satisfied that all was alright.” (Allan Poe,Edgar. “The Black Cat” 1843). Supporting the point that when the narrator killed his wife it seemed as though he was able to finally get a sense of closure within himself and was at peace. Although it wasn’t a successful fulfillment of displacement the actions taken upon the cat were intended for the wife.

 

       The idea of the unconscious is shown in the sense in which humans act upon that which is embedded into them and although we are not able to pinpoint all of our decisions and behaviors (just as the narrator was unable to explain as to why he was unable to assault the cat in the beginning of the story) they come from our hidden influence. As the displacement also proves its real life application as to humans explanation as to why and how we pick and choose our battles based on our views of what is deemed appropriate.

 

Reflection:

   As I went through the guidelines of this exploratory essay in class, I thought to myself out of all the reading selections given to me in class which of these would I be able to elaborate the most on and which would I have the best understanding of the content in connection to Freud. I then went on to do my research and began to read the summaries of these text and “The Black Cat” seemed to be the one to grab my attention. I believed as though Poe used Freud’s theories as an inspiration to write this piece. Although some form of stress took me over as I thought of the high standards to writing the essay I was able to formulate the basis of my discussion.

    As I read the text I made note to myself to highlight anything that had Freud written on it. Which most of it was, but I opted on discussing two of his theories displacement and the unconscious which I believed made multiple appearances in the text. I thus began creating an outline to the paper and took to writing. I feel as though I was able to exercise my course learning outcomes by analyzing evidence and interpreting information from a different point of view to discreetly define what is known as the individual and society in the sense of examining different influences, theories, and beliefs around us to understand why our society is the way it is.