characters of the stories "The Cask of Amontillado, and "The Black Cat" are insane, not only for there actions, but there thinking as well. As readers, we should not look at Poe's stories objectively. "There is no possible way to obtain from any of Poe's gothic tales an objective viewpoint because every word is relayed to the reader directly though the narrator"(Saliba 70). We believe in all the narrative that the central character gives, not only on what he sees and does, but also about what he is thinking. "...the dramatic action of all the stories is directly created by the narrative voice"(Saliba 70). This is precisely Poe's intention. As readers, if we believe that the characters are insane, and there perception of the world is clouded, we would not believe that what the characters see and feel is not really happening, then we miss Poe's intentions entirely:
             What is important is that the reader give credence to the idea that the narrator believes in his own perception; that what he perceives is surely more true to him than whatever objective reality the reader might think he sees, or as Poe's intended underlying reality of the situation. It is far more important that the reader trust
             the narrator as far as the narrator's perception is concerned than that he skip him mentally to reassure himself of Poe's sane artistic control the whole time the reader is pursing the story; otherwise he will be missing the opportunity of enjoying the artistic experience Poe has intentionally provided (Saliba 68)
             As for the style of the first person narrative, it gives the story a totally different perception and feeling, not found in most short stories. With most short stories, the plot is told from the outside looking in, in the third person form. As readers, besides the occasional description, we never get to really determine the true feeling of the central character. However with Poe's first person narrative, as readers lo...