Christina Coke
Dr. Catherine Milton
ENG 102, Essay #1 –First Draft
October 1, 2014
The Use of First Person Point of View
Have you ever tried to tell somebody’s story? A story meant to be funny, and all you got were blank stares and awkward silence? But when that person tells their story, it’s a lot more hilarious, and everybody laughs? It’s the same story but from two different point of views, which makes all the difference. In the world of literature, there are three common point of views often used. Evidently in this superb story, the author Poe chose to use the first person, this establishes a sense of rapport between the reader and the narrator. We see everything through their eyes and understand their motives, thoughts, feelings and actions. Poe could have conveyed the story through the third person, but with a story like “The Tell- Tale Heart” the first person point of view becomes so vital to the whole concept of the story. Using the first person point of view enhances the drama, helps the reader to understand not only the plot of the story, but also the central character on which the story hinges.
Throughout this story, it seems like the narrator is present there in the room, telling their story, first-hand, and this intensifies the dramatic effect of the story. A classic example of this would be the opening sentence where the narrator describes how “very dreadfully nervous” he feels. His feelings don’t become filtered through the distance of a third person narrator. Instead, the feelings happen at the moment, as the protagonist experiences it. As the protagonist unveils his fears and thoughts to the reader, he creates connection and intimacy. The way Poe recounts the final moments before the confession; it feels as if the narrator and the reader’s emotions are now in sync. The way he describes the “LOW, DULL, QUICK SOUND -- MUCH SUCH A SOUND AS A WATCH MAKES WHEN ENVELOPED IN COTTON,” pulling the reader in as they recreate the sound in their imagination. At that moment when the narrator confesses “I admit the deed!” it had a more profound effect on the reader as opposed to a third person narrator just recounting the fact that he confessed.
Not only does the use of first person builds on the dramatic effect of the story, it keeps the unusual plot of this story clear, less complicated and easier to understand. The author's decision to use the first person point of view instantly tells the reader whose story this is. It establishes quickly who the reader should care about and root for in the story. Telling every event of the story through the protagonist’s filter allows the reader evaluate the weight of those events and create a context for events showing how they impact the character’s life. Instead of always trying to interpret what a narrator from a different point of view is trying to say about the protagonist, the first person gives us an all access key to a person’s thought process. The story now becomes a lot more interesting and entertaining when the reader know exactly what is going on. For example, when the narrator starts to hear sounds during the visit of the policemen he said “I fancied a ringing in my ears.” It is still uncertain to the reader whether the sounds are real or just a figment of his imagination, however! There are hints that suggest it was all in the mind. If the author wrote the story from a different point of view, and the reader have to see through the mind of the narrator and then into the thoughts of the main character. That statement then becomes a little more complicated and could leave the reader confused and the time spent trying to figure out the story is the time lost to be enjoying the story.
In addition, without the use of the first person, the character’s motivation would not be as sharply etched as it is. The particular standpoint from which the author wrote the "Tell-Tale Heart” provides the reader with insight into the Protagonist's motivation in performing such a vicious crime and sharing it with the reader. Important to note that the narrator says that he "had been and were" nervous in the first sentence. It means that he was mentally unstable during the time of the events that he described transpired and in the "present," the time of the story’s narration. No significant passion or object stood behind the chief character's heinous actions. The reason for the crime lies wholly in the disturbed mind of the narrator.
Finally, the use of the first person helps with understanding the development of the character. Since the only viewpoint of the novel is, the protagonist’s the reader can spend a lot of time with one character and get to know them. The protagonist is directly telling the story; therefore, the “voice” of the story is directly related to the voice of the character. The first person perspective allows for opportunities to show if the protagonist is funny, or philosophical, hyper, or laid back. In this case, the perspective shows that the character is a mentally unstable individual, trying to convince the reader of his sanity. The author can share these traits through the use of, sentence structure, word choice and diction. So when the narrator says “If still you think me mad, you will think so no longer when I describe the wise precautions I took for the concealment of the body.” This one way the author helps the reader recognize this character is clearly sick by the way he takes pride in admitting to the murder. The use of first person enables the reader to see and understand how the character thinks and experiences the world around them, and that becomes critical in this story.
It should now be clear the important role the use of the first person point of view played in making the story what it is. It is one of the many elements of literature Poe used to culminate such a great story, but it is the one that made the story stand out. Even though, the first person tends to limit the perspective and perception of the story and the reader is only exposed to one side of the story. It goes such a far way in helping the reader to understand the main character and creates a more vivid picture of what the plot is about. In the end, the narrator of “The Tell-Tale Heart” helps the reader to relate more readily to the story through a direct contact with his mind.
Work Cited
Poe, Edgar Allan. "The Tell-Tale Heart ." About.com.: Classic Literature. 1849. Web. 30 Oct 2014