A man is driven to commit a crime despite knowing it will lead to his own downfall and death. He is motivated by an irresistible impulse to act against his own self-interest. The story explores the concept of the human psyche's tendency towards self-destruction, and how this can be triggered by a desire for excitement or a need to defy societal norms.
By Edgar Allan Poe · First published 1845 · Genre: Psychological Horror, Gothic Fiction, Philosophical Fiction