Examples of symbolism in "The Black Cat" by Edgar Allan Poe.
1. The black cat - The black cat symbolizes various things throughout the story. At first, it represents the narrator's love and attachment to animals, as he describes it as his favorite pet. However, as the story progresses, the cat becomes a symbol of the narrator's guilt and remorse. Its presence reminds him of his dark and violent actions, ultimately leading him to madness.
2. The white spot - The white spot on the black cat's chest is a symbolic mark of the supernatural. In the narrator's eyes, it transforms into a gallows, symbolizing impending doom. As the spot seemingly grows and changes, it serves as a visual representation of the narrator's increasing guilt and paranoia.
3. The second black cat - The appearance of the second black cat symbolizes the narrator's deteriorating mental state. As the story unfolds, the cat's malice mirrors the narrator's own violent tendencies, foreshadowing his downfall. In this case, the cat is a symbol of the protagonist's internal darkness, acting as a manifestation of his guilt and potential for evil.
4. The wall - The wall in the cellar, where the narrator hides his wife's body, represents a barrier between the truth and the protagonist's conscience. It symbolizes the division between reality and the repressed guilt the narrator tries to suppress. The gradual tearing down of the wall mirrors the deteriorating mental state of the narrator and the growing torment of his guilt.
5. The alcohol - Throughout the story, alcohol symbolizes the narrator's theme of self-destruction. It serves as an escape from his guilt, but ultimately intensifies his dark desires and violent tendencies. The protagonist's addiction to alcohol represents his inability to confront and overcome his moral shortcomings.
6. Pluto - Pluto, the name of the narrator's first black cat, is also a significant symbol. In Roman mythology, Pluto is the god of the underworld, representing death and the afterlife. Through naming his cat Pluto, the narrator unconsciously associates his pet with death, foreshadowing the ultimate demise of both the cat and the narrator. The cat's connection with the underworld further emphasizes the story's overarching theme of death and decay.