In the two stories The Black Cat and Miriam written by Edgar Allan Poe as well as Truman Capote’s Miriam, both protagonists have powerful thoughts, mental issues and are influenced by objects in the external world, but also by inner struggles. In the story of The Black Cat by Edgar Allan Poe, the protagonist is tragically led into a dark abyss because he drinks too much alcohol. In the second case, Miriam the hallucinated woman, takes over the protagonist’s life and reveals her innermost fears and ideologies.
The struggle and conflict that exists between the character and the world outside is what first impacts the character. It’s the reason his emotions and thoughts have changed as his drinking habits become more serious. He says that he has been a friend to animals ever since he was a child. He even believes that people around him are “paltry friends” and that pets have more “fidelity” that humans. Alcohol is what changes his perception of humanity and his personality. He is a man who kills his beloved cat with brutality and cuts out one eye. This action makes him feel guilty, but he regrets it only if he has sympathy. It becomes worse if he kills one cat and then meets a second, identical cat with a slightly different neck. The fur on the cat’s neck also represents his morbid mood. The character sees the sin, but the alcohol sinks into his mind and soul, making him evil. He eventually kills his spouse.
The Black Cat character experiences a very different life than Mrs. Miller. The loneliness of Mrs. Miller is what causes her mental disorder and impacts her mind. Miriam, the allusion that she makes in her story is most likely to demonstrate how she thinks. She says that she found a feeling of darkness that was disturbing. It is a sign that her heart is empty. She becomes “feverishly anxious” after meeting Miriam. At first, she is “oddly thrilled” by Miriam’s appearance, but when she returns to her home and removes her jewel case she panics. The illusion that she creates in her head haunts her and her thoughts are never able to fade.
In summary, both characters experience similar circumstances as they undergo mental changes. Their mental problems lead to their deaths. The character from The Black Cat has a mental disorder due to his addiction. He needs to be numb by drinking and self-medicating. Miriam could be a creature from her old life that shows up in the second tale. She may feel that her days are numbered, as the overwhelming loneliness is all around her. She feels as if she’s choking. And, while being with Miriam, she can sense that her life is running out. The inner conflicts of the two protagonists are what ultimately brought their mental castle down.
