In Edgar Allan Poe’s short story “The Tell-Tale Heart,” the story ends with the narrator’s confession to the murder he committed. The narrator, who is also the protagonist, becomes increasingly paranoid and anxious due to the sound of the old man’s heart, which he believes is still beating even after the man is dead. This sound, whether real or imagined, drives the narrator to the brink of madness.
As the police investigate the old man’s disappearance, the narrator tries to maintain his composure. However, the relentless sound of the heart grows louder and louder in his mind, overwhelming him. Unable to bear the guilt and the imagined noise any longer, the narrator finally breaks down and confesses to the crime, revealing the location of the old man’s dismembered body hidden beneath the floorboards.
The story concludes with the narrator’s admission of his own insanity, as he is unable to distinguish between reality and his own delusions. This ending highlights the themes of guilt, madness, and the inescapable nature of one’s conscience.