“First of all I dismembered the corpse. I cut off the head, the arms, and the legs. I then took up three planks from the flooring of the chamber, and deposited all between the scantlings,” (59) Mr. Smith explained how he hid the body of Mr. Johnson. Instead of the usual question, who did it, the important question is Mr. Smith’s mental state during the murder. Was he insane, or was he sane? The dictionary definition of insane according to USLegal.com includes that “..a person cannot distinguish fantasy from reality, cannot manage his/her own affairs, or is subject to uncontrollable impulsive behavior.” To not be guilty the person who committed the crime “...could not tell right from wrong or could not control his or her behavior…” According
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Mr. Smith can distinguish between the two if everything was all a fantasy he would have nothing to be nervous or worried about. The fantasy would end at some point and he knew it wouldn’t because it is reality. “True! -nervous- very, very dreadfully nervous I had been and am...” (55) “...but once conceived it haunted me day and night.” (55) Both quotes show he knows it cannot be changed once done and shows his worry and nerves. Although nervous, Mr. Smith carries on his daily affairs before the murder of Mr. …show more content…
Mr. Smith shows many examples of controlling his behavior. “I kept quite still and said nothing. For a whole hour I did not move a muscle…”(57) If Mr. Smith were to be insane he would not have been able to stay completely still for a whole hour. Being still for a hour is difficult for a sane person to do, but much more difficult for an insane person. There could be anything that triggers them into moving. “When I had waited a long time, very patiently...and I grew furious as I gazed upon it...it was the beating of the old man’s heart. It increased my fury, as the beating of a drum stimulates the soldier into courage. But yet I refrained and kept still.” (58) Although infuriated, he remained still if he were to be insane the fury would have taken over and he would have acted impulsively. But he did
Mr. Smith can distinguish between the two if everything was all a fantasy he would have nothing to be nervous or worried about. The fantasy would end at some point and he knew it wouldn’t because it is reality. “True! -nervous- very, very dreadfully nervous I had been and am...” (55) “...but once conceived it haunted me day and night.” (55) Both quotes show he knows it cannot be changed once done and shows his worry and nerves. Although nervous, Mr. Smith carries on his daily affairs before the murder of Mr. …show more content…
Mr. Smith shows many examples of controlling his behavior. “I kept quite still and said nothing. For a whole hour I did not move a muscle…”(57) If Mr. Smith were to be insane he would not have been able to stay completely still for a whole hour. Being still for a hour is difficult for a sane person to do, but much more difficult for an insane person. There could be anything that triggers them into moving. “When I had waited a long time, very patiently...and I grew furious as I gazed upon it...it was the beating of the old man’s heart. It increased my fury, as the beating of a drum stimulates the soldier into courage. But yet I refrained and kept still.” (58) Although infuriated, he remained still if he were to be insane the fury would have taken over and he would have acted impulsively. But he did