The Imp of the Perverse by Edgar Allan Poe

As Poe describes this theory: We stand upon the brink of a precipice. 'The Imp of the Perverse' begins as an essay rather than as a work of fiction, a format that Poe previously used in 'The Premature Burial.' It is, therefore, less about plot and more about theory. He is quickly tried and convicted of murder and sentenced to death by hanging. When finally stopped, he feels struck by some 'invisible fiend.' He reveals his secret with 'distinct enunciation,' though in such a hurry as if afraid of being interrupted. He fearfully runs through the streets, arousing suspicion. In saying so, however, he begins to question if he is capable of confessing. The narrator remains unsuspected, though he occasionally reassures himself by repeating under his breath, 'I am safe.' One day, he notes that he will remain safe only if he is not foolish enough to openly confess. The narrator inherits the man's estate and, knowing he can never be caught, enjoys the benefits of his murderous act for many years.

No evidence is left behind, causing the coroner to believe the man's death is an act of God. The victim enjoyed reading in bed at night and, using the candle for illumination, dies in his poorly-ventilated room. The narrator murders a man using a candle that emits a poisonous vapor. This essay-like discussion is presented objectively, though the narrator admits that he is 'one of the many uncounted victims of the Imp of the Perverse.' He then explains how his conviction for murder was the result of this. The narrator describes this spirit as the agent that tempts a person to do things 'merely because we feel we should not.' The narrator explains at length his theory on 'The Imp of the Perverse,' which he believes causes people to commit acts against their self-interest. It discusses the narrator's self-destructive impulses, embodied as the symbolic metaphor of The Imp of the Perverse. 'The Imp of the Perverse' is a short story that begins as an essay written by 19th-century American author and critic Edgar Allan Poe.

The Imp of the Perverse by Edgar Allan Poe