CRITICAL DISCOURSE ANALYSIS OF THE TELL-TALE HEART IN THE CONTEXT OF PAKISTAN

Abstract

Power relations that highlight social discourse depict different perspectives on society and culture (Fairclough, 1997). Applying the critical discourse analysis model (Fairclough, 1992 ) and (Fairclough, 1995 ), this paper explores new dimensions of The Tell-tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe (Poe, 1903) in the context of Pakistan. Following a text-based methodology, it investigates the three major themes of guilt, time, and insanity at the micro and macro level. The analysis further highlights the specific power relation in the researcher’s society and supports the claim that each society follows certain norms. This paper argues that power relations which the story uproots through the ‘Evil Eye’ exist in every society and maintains the social-cultural differences between people dividing them in the world of ‘I’ and ‘You’.

Author Biographies

Shumaila Omar

Shumaila Omar is working as a lecturer at the Institute of Business Administration. Her email address is shumailaomar2@gmail.com

Muhammad Asif Khan

Muhammad Asif Khan is working as an assistant professor in the department of Communication in the Institute of Business Management. His email address is southpaw_khan@hotmail.com

Maria Hassan

Maria Hassan is an assistant professor at the Institute of Business Administration. Her email address is mhsiddiqui@iba.edu.pk

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