What is the literary device frequently contrived in first-person which focalizer operates from a compromised perspective precarious psychological state or lack of credibility?

The literary device frequently contrived in first-person where the focalizer operates from a compromised perspective, precarious psychological state, or lack of credibility is called unreliable narrator.

Here's a breakdown:

* First-person narration: The story is told from the "I" perspective, directly by a character within the narrative.

* Unreliable narrator: This narrator is biased, untrustworthy, or simply incapable of providing an accurate account of events due to their:

* Mental state: They might be suffering from mental illness, trauma, or delusion.

* Self-interest: They might be deliberately manipulating the truth to protect themselves or achieve a desired outcome.

* Limited perspective: They might be naive, ignorant, or simply misinterpreting events due to their personal biases.

Examples of unreliable narrators in literature:

* Hamlet: Shakespeare's Hamlet is famous for his melancholic and introspective nature, which makes it difficult for the reader to ascertain the full truth of events.

* The Catcher in the Rye: Holden Caulfield, the narrator of J.D. Salinger's novel, is a teenager with a cynical and jaded worldview, making his perceptions questionable.

* The Tell-Tale Heart: Edgar Allan Poe's story is narrated by a man who has committed murder and is plagued by guilt and paranoia, leading him to reveal his crime through his own increasingly unreliable narration.

The use of unreliable narrators adds layers of complexity and ambiguity to the story, inviting the reader to engage with the narrative on a deeper level and question the reality presented.