

This cat looked exactly like Pluto except it had a patch of white fur at the bosom, which later represented the "gallows." The events that followed the hanging of Pluto can be attributed to supernatural explanations, for it is a common belief that a black cat brings bad luck.

A few days later, another black cat appeared in front of the narrator. His house burned down, only one wall remained, and that wall had an impression of the black cat with a rope about the animal’s neck. After the murder of the black cat, bad luck followed the narrator. In this story, the narrator kills his pet-Pluto, a black cat-by hanging him from a tree branch. The title itself suggests supernatural elements, for there are various superstitions regarding the bad luck that a black cat allegedly brings. The theme of supernatural elements pervades this story. We do not know why he was driven to drink, and being drunk did not explain all of his evil deeds-but alcohol certainly exacerbated his behavior and helped him stray further from a unified self. He abused the rabbits, the dogs, the monkey, and even his favorite pet, Pluto. He became more irritable, cared little for the feelings of others, and often used intemperate language with his wife-not to mention the violent acts he committed towards her. In this story, the narrator describes to the readers the effects of the “Fiend Intemperance." It was due to the increased intake of alcohol that the narrator experienced a radical alteration for the worse. Is he affected with "perverseness"? Is it a result of the alcohol? Does he not know what he is doing? The ill-effects of alcoholism However, for reasons that remain inscrutable to the reader, he continues his descent into moral degeneration. He was even aware that his favorite pet and playmate, Pluto, was falling victim to the ill-effects brought by alcoholism onto the narrator. He was aware of his increased irritability, his disregard of the feelings of others, and the unreasonable violent actions he carried out towards his wife. In " The Black Cat," the narrator was aware that his thoughts and actions were transforming into a downward spiral. Buy Study Guide Man’s descent into insanity
