The Tell-Tale Heart: Id, Ego, and Superego

Id, Ego, and Superego in "The Tell-Tale Heart"

• The narrator's id is driven by impulses and desires, evident in his impulsive decision to murder the old man due to his irrational fear of the old man's eye.
• The ego attempts to justify the narrator's actions and maintain his sanity by meticulously planning the murder and rationalizing his behavior.
• The superego represents moral and societal values, leading to feelings of guilt and remorse, symbolized by the relentless beating of the old man's heart.
• The narrator's guilt ultimately leads to his downfall as he confesses his crime due to the unbearable weight of his guilt.

Id, Ego, and Superego in "Metamorphosis"

• Gregor Samsa's transformation into a giant insect can be seen as a manifestation of his id, representing his inner desires and impulses that have been suppressed or ignored in his human form.
• The ego attempts to maintain a sense of normalcy and fulfill his duties as a provider for his family, despite his physical transformation.
• The superego represents internalized moral and societal values, leading to feelings of guilt and obligation, evident in Gregor's sense of duty towards his family despite their mistreatment of him.

Defense Mechanisms in "The Tell-Tale Heart"

• The narrator uses denial, convincing himself that it is the eye's "Evil Eye" that drives him to commit murder, rather than acknowledging his true source of anxiety.
• The narrator represses feelings of guilt and remorse for his actions, dismissing them as irrational and insisting on his own rationality.
• The narrator's behavior and thoughts demonstrate defense mechanisms, such as projection, rationalization, and repression, to cope with his guilt and anxiety.