Answer:
The passage you provided is an excerpt from the short story "The Tell-Tale Heart" by Edgar Allan Poe. In this passage, the narrator is trying to convince the reader that he is not mad. He claims that his senses have become sharper due to an unspecified disease, especially his sense of hearing.
The narrator describes how the idea of killing the old man with whom he had no personal issues came to his mind and haunted him day and night. He explains that the reason for wanting to kill the old man was the vulture-like eye of the old man, which made him feel extremely uncomfortable. The narrator plans the murder very carefully, ensuring that he behaves kindly towards the old man before the act.
Every night for seven nights, at midnight, the narrator opens the old man's door and slowly places his head inside the room, using a closed lantern to shine a thin ray of light on the old man's eye. However, every time he attempts to do the deed, the old man's eye is closed, making it impossible for him to complete the act.
In the mornings, the narrator enters the old man's room boldly and talks to him, pretending to have no knowledge of his nighttime activities. The narrator believes that the old man could never suspect that he was being watched while he slept.
The passage showcases the narrator's descent into madness, as he obsesses over the old man's eye and becomes fixated on killing him. The repetition of the phrase "You fancy me mad" is the narrator's attempt to convince the reader that he is not mad, despite his actions and thoughts.
It is important to note that this passage is a work of fiction and does not reflect real-life situations or appropriate behavior. The story explores themes of obsession, guilt, and the effects of a troubled mind.
Step-by-step explanation: