Summary of the Story and the Film
In the story of Edgar Allan Poe called “The Black Cat” and the short film “Lorenzo” from Disney, both characters experience significant and rather drastic changes in their psychological and emotional state. This transformation leads them to commit violent acts. However, the main difference between these characters is how they deal with the circumstances. Even though both commit harmful actions against their “loved ones,” one succumbs to mental problems, and the other decides to confront them.
Character Comparison
Similarities
The first and most important similarity between the characters in the story “The Black Cat” and the short film “Lorenzo” is the presence of “loved ones.” The man in the story has a beloved cat whose good attitude is mutual (Allan Poe, 2020). In the film, Lorenzo the cat has an unlived object of adoration and pride: his tail (Cartoons Storehouse, 2022).
Another similarity between these works is a significant deterioration of the mental state. In Poe’s story, the narrator develops alcoholism and has trouble controlling his emotions, which leads to violence against his animals and his wife. In the short film, the cat is cursed by a black cat, which results in the revival of his tail, that is, the division of his personality into two parts.
Differences
Although the story’s characters and the short film acquire mental and emotional problems, the main difference is how they handle them. Hence, the narrator of “The Black Cat” gradually goes crazy and succumbs to the cruel instincts and terrifying feelings that fill him. This leads to the fact that he brutally deals with his cat, tries to kill another cat he rescued, and kills his wife (Allan Poe, 2020). In the plot of “Lorenzo,” the main character, on the contrary, goes through the whole spectrum of different emotions, such as fear and horror, but comes to acceptance. Therefore, he gains control over the current situation and takes everything into his own hands.
References
Allan Poe, E. (2020). The black cat. Lulu.com.
Cartoons Storehouse. (2022). Lorenzo (2004). YouTube.