1. How does Poe's use of unreliable first-person narrators affect ourreception of his stories? (refer to at least 2-3 stories with directquotations and clear explanations of how the stories pertain to thisquestion)Poe’s use of unreliable narrators causes the readers to questionwhether it was real or not. His narrators suffer from hallucinations thataffect his memory and mixes reality with the real-world in some cases. In“The Tell-Tale Heart,” the narrator’s insistence on proving his own sanityonly strengthens the idea that he is suffering from madness. At thebeginning of the third paragraph of the story, it states, “Now this is thepoint. You fancy me mad. Madmen know nothing. But you should have seenme. You should have seen how wisely I proceeded – with what caution – withwhat foresight – with what dissimulation I went to work! I was never kinderto the old man than during the whole week before I killed him.”Approaching the old man's bed on the night of the crime, the narratorclaims to know what his victim "had been saying to himself." The narratortells police that it was he who screamed, and there was no evidence in thestory that claims the police found the old man’s body. The narrator alsocomes to believe that he can see into the minds of the officers who arrive atthe old man's house. In the last paragraph of the story, it states, "It grewlouder – louder – louder! And still, the men chatted pleasantly and smiled.Was it possible they heard not? Almighty God——No, No! They heard!--they suspected! – they knew! – they were making a mockery of my horror!"This was caused by his own thoughts because he thought they would hearthe heartbeat of the old man underneath the planks where he lay.In “Ligeia,” the unnamed narrator is an unreliable narrator becausethe narrator is addicted to opium, cannot remember certain things, and hasan obsession over his first wife, Lady Ligeia. The story starts off by thenarrator claiming not to remember the circumstances under which he methis beloved, the Lady Ligeia, as said in the first paragraph, “I cannot, for mysoul, remember how, when, or even precisely where, I first becameacquainted with the Lady Ligeia.” He does remember where he firstencounters her and her family, which was in an ancient city near the Rhine.He also recalls that Ligeia spoke frequently about her family, but he cannotseem to believe he ever knew her last name. As said in the story, fromparagraph one, “And now, while I write, a recollection flashes upon me thatI have never known the paternal name of her who was my friend and mybetrothed, and who became the partner of my studies, and finally the wife ofmy bosom.” According to the narrator, Ligeia is “tall, somewhat slender,and, in her latter days, even emaciated.” She treads lightly, moving like ashadow. Though fiercely beautiful, Ligeia inconsistent with a traditionalform of beauty. the narrator identifies a “strangeness” in her features.Ligeia’s most distinctive feature is her hair, black as a raven and naturally
