According to the psychodynamic perspective, what underlying motive best explains why the narrator killed the old man in Edgar Allan Poe's 'The Tell-Tale Heart'?

• A. Unconscious anxiety and internal conflict projected onto the old man
• B. A rational decision based on logical reasoning
• C. An attempt to gain material wealth
• D. A desire for social approval from others

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that the psychodynamic perspective focuses on unconscious motives, internal conflicts, and emotional drives that influence behavior beyond conscious awareness.
2. Identify the narrator's behavior and feelings in 'The Tell-Tale Heart,' noting that the narrator is obsessed with the old man's eye and experiences intense anxiety and guilt.
3. Recognize that from a psychodynamic viewpoint, the narrator's act of killing is not a rational or conscious decision but is driven by unconscious anxiety and internal conflict projected onto the old man.
4. Eliminate other options such as logical reasoning, material gain, or social approval, as these do not align with the psychodynamic emphasis on unconscious motives and emotional conflict.
5. Conclude that the best explanation is that the narrator's unconscious anxiety and internal conflict are projected onto the old man, leading to the violent act.