The killer in Edgar Allan Poe’s short story, “The Tell-Tale Heart,” is the unnamed narrator himself. As the story unfolds, the narrator insists on his sanity while describing the meticulous planning and execution of his crime.
The story reveals that the narrator becomes obsessed with the old man’s eye, which he describes as “vulture-like.” His fixation escalates to the point where he decides he must kill the old man to rid himself of the eye forever. The dramatic irony lies in the narrator’s attempts to justify his actions, claiming that he is not mad but rather clever and cautious in his execution of the murder.
After murdering the old man, the narrator dismembers the body and conceals it beneath the floorboards. However, his guilt manifests as a haunting sound—the beating of the old man’s heart—leading to his ultimate confession. This reveal emphasizes the themes of guilt and paranoia pervasive in Poe’s works, ultimately showcasing how the mind can betray even the most careful planned actions.