Gothic literature is known for suspense. Edgar allan Poe, a great Gothic writer and poet, transcends simple techniques like describing a stormy night in the beginning of his stories. Poe’s clever narrative choices, such as withholding information or controlling pace, develop the character of the narrator and create suspense for his Gothic story “The Black Cat.”
Poe creates suspense by withholding information. It is clear that the story’s Narrator addresses an audience when it begins. Even though he doesn’t know us yet, he clearly knows them. He says he isn’t mad, then he adds: “But tomorrow I die, but to-day would unburthen mine soul.” This is such a bizarre statement that anyone reading it immediately wonders what the narrator means by dying. How is this possible? Is he going to be executed? Execution is the best way to handle crimes, especially those committed by individuals with mental illness. Can society not be more compassionate in dealing with people like the narrator? These questions are not answered until the end of the story. You must continue reading to find out the reason the narrator thinks that he’ll be dead the next day. The narrator reveals that he was “consigned” at the end. . . Poe manages the story’s pace and suspense to keep the reader guessing. In the event that the action becomes too intense or violent, Poe will use a lot of commas to connect the sentences. Poe is trying to make time seem slower by using longer, more complex sentences. The pace slows and suspense builds. It is then that we start to wonder if the narration will ever end. It seems strange to me that Gothic stories are lumped together. You know that something is Gothic, so you are more likely to feel suspense. Poe adds suspense to the story with more complicated tools and narrative choices than just setting it in a darkened house or castle. To add suspense, he withholds important information and carefully controls the pace. These narrative choices were so effective, people still read Poe’s stories 150 years later.
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