Read the excerpt from the climax of "The Tell-Tale Heart":

"Villains!" I shrieked, "dissemble no more! I admit the deed!-tear up the planks! here, here!-It is the beating of his hideous heart!"

Which theme does this climax most connect with?

A. It takes evil to catch evil.
B. Pride leads to eventual ruin.
C. Bad things happen in groups.
D. Evil cannot stay hidden for long.

The climax of "The Tell-Tale Heart" highlights the theme that evil cannot remain hidden, as the narrator's guilt ultimately reveals his crime. His desperate admission signifies the inescapable nature of truth, even in the face of deceit. Therefore, the correct theme related to this climax is that evil cannot stay hidden for long.

Explanation:

Identifying the Theme in "The Tell-Tale Heart"

The climax in Edgar Allan Poe's "The Tell-Tale Heart" reveals the main character's inability to conceal his guilt after committing murder. When he exclaims, "Villains! I shrieked, 'dissemble no more! I admit the deed!'" he highlights the overwhelming pressure of his guilt, suggesting that evil cannot stay hidden for long.

This connects with the theme that no matter how much one might try to suppress wrongdoing, the truth will eventually surface. The beating of the heart symbolically represents his tortured conscience, which he can no longer bear to ignore. Thus, the most fitting theme from the options given is evil cannot stay hidden for long.

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