Trick Endings

             In the Tell Tale Heart, we are not led to the twist at the ending differently. Poe uses the element of terror throughout the entire story. He does this first by having a nameless narrator. This creates a sense of mystery. Then the narrator states that he loves the old man, but his eye was irritating him to the point he plotted the old man's murder as a result. However, he makes this statement in a calm and collective voice. He then says that he is not crazy; he says this repeatedly, which leads the reader to believe that he is. The fact that the narrator is completely calm when he murders the old man and that he is pleased at what a "good job" he did makes the reader question even more the narrator's sanity. When the narrator invites the cop in as a way of boasting, Poe adds the sound of the old man's heartbeat to add the element of suspense. The narrator begins to think to himself, screaming inside himself, and silently yell at the police officer for mocking him. it is the sound of the old man's heartbeat that drives the narrator to confess. If the heartbeat and the narrator speaking to himself was not added to the ending, then the reader would not be led to think that he would not get away with the murder. Poe is famous for this particular style of writing.
             In the Monkey's Paw, you are led to the twist at the ending differently. You are led to believe that the parents would wish back their son and live happily ever after. Jacobs uses the element of coincidence and mystery tied together. Mr. White wishes for 200,000 pounds, and he gets his wish in an unexpected way. His wish was granted when he was paid compensation after Herbert, his son, was killed in a factory accident. Mrs. White then demands that Mr. White wish for the son to return from the dead. At this point the reader would assume that Mr. White would wish for his son and the story would have a pleasant ending. However,...

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Trick Endings. (1969, December 31). In MegaEssays.com. Retrieved 05:02, May 20, 2024, from https://www.megaessays.com/viewpaper/25552.html