The Imp of the Perverse
In the story, the Imp of the Perverse symbolizes human impulses that are irrational, harmful, and seemingly inexplicable. The Imp (an imp is traditionally a kind of small demon) doesn’t actually exist in the story…
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Phrenology
Phrenology symbolizes humankind’s failure to grapple with the impulses that the narrator claims stems from the Imp of the Perverse—in other words, Poe uses phrenology to symbolize the shortcomings of science and religion, suggesting…
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The Poisoned Candle
After his discussion of phrenology and the Imp of the Perverse, the narrator confesses to a murder—and he says he killed his victim by using a poisoned candle. The narrator describes ruminating for months…
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