The Black Cat Quote

"Mad indeed would I be to expect, in a case where my very senses reject their own evidence. Yet, mad am I not - and very surely do I not dream. But tomorrow I die, and today I would unburden my soul." - The Black Cat

Occurring at the beginning of the short story, this quotation significantly questions the reader with the likelihood of reliability from the narrator. Although the information is limited in its current state - since it's only the introductory paragraph - , it can be inferred that the man's mental stability may be unstable. Such is evident in the narrator's implication of being "mad". As this is the first detail about the disposition of the man, the impression starts off with a concern of credibility of what is soon to be read. Furthermore, the narrator then proclaims that he will die on the following day. Interpreted of this is the possibility of execution - as it's the only reasonable option. Therefore, the protagonist must have committed a serious offence - such as murder - to be punished by death.