Amontillado Literary Fiction

What this shows is a disturbed, confused, and sick mind that finds pleasure in his task. “The Cask of Amontillado” is a story nothing more than the behavior of a sociopath and psychologically deranged killer.

It was a cold October night when I first heard of Fortunato’s case, I was very amused at the thought of someone doing something so unhuman to a person. I guess some people can’t control their actions, but then again those people belong in a mental institution. This case in particular was very peculiar because it had gone five years without being solved. It was about a week ago when our department heard about this case, it wasn’t long before the case landed on my hands. I am after all the best detective in this state something to be proud of course. Going out to the other side of the world to solve a case was something I had never done before but this case was overdue and someone had to do

Edgar Allan Poe uses literary devices to describe and support the underlying theme of revenge. Poe uses foreshadowing in the story since you pretty much know what’s going to happen to Fortunado in the form of his heinous death by the end of the story. Throughout there is a steady change of scenery from a lively carnival to a dark

“The Cask of Amontillado” was written by Edgar Allan Poe and was published in 1846. In the short story the narrator, Montresor, executes his friend Fortunato because he feels like he insulted him. For this, he seeks revenge. Fortunato is known to be very knowledgeable about all types of wine. Montresor uses this to his advantage to take him down to his family crypt during the carnival celebration. He tells him that he has a unique wine, and believes it is an Amontillado. After Montresor and Fortunato go deeper and deeper into the crypt, Montresor chains Fortunato and builds a wall around him. At first Fortunato thinks it is a joke, but he soon realizes that he will be dying in the crypt. Montresor goes on to boast about his crime and how he has never been caught. This shows that Montresor is a sinister, mentally insane, and a narcissist.

Literary and commercial fiction are the two types of fiction that Authors all over the world present to readers. Commercial fiction always entertains readers and this is the point, to provide a story that anyone can enjoy. Literary fiction does not offer a clear way for one to understand and literary fiction is not created to be understood. Literary fiction makes readers do all the work and find meanings all by oneself. It is vital to be able to determine a literary work from a commercial one to fully grasp a work and the methods to determining one from another is easier than one thinks.

Given these points, the shadowy and mischievous setting, the captivating plot, and mesmerizing point of view make “The Cask of Amontillado” a prime example of a quality horror story. The setting helps Montresor lure Fortunato into the skeleton-filled catacombs, the plot evokes a scary and frightened response from the reader, and the point of view shows us Montresor’s true feelings. Even though an idea of a perfect crime is impossible, the author develops Montresor to have the best traits and choices which make every dream of a murderer a

“The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allen Poe is a story of crime. It is not a “Who done it?” requiring a detective to solve (Baraban). The reader’s mind is compelled to use intelligence to determine the reason for the crime. The murderer treats his prey with high respect to hide his real deviant intentions. The villain uses flattery and the victims declared pride in wine to lure him as a participant in his revenge plan. The murderer makes certain that his concerns towards the victim’s health are heard and decides to strike during carnival season.

The first –person narration style of “The Cask of Amontillado” is vital in creating the quality of the story. The story allows one of the main characters in the story Montresor, to tell the story from his point of view which gives the reader intimate yet disturbing look into the mind story teller thinks and feels which the reader doesn’t normally get from other narrative styles. The narrative style of this story is important because it sets the tone of the story. The reader become more familiar with the thoughts and intentions of the main character and this allows the reader to slightly figure out the outcome of the story and further understand the ironies throughout the story. If this story was told from a different angle I don’t believe it would be as powerful. Narration in first-person “can evoke a stronger emotional attachment with readers; from the first instance, the reader connects with the main protagonist. It is his/her voice, thoughts and feelings being portrayed; therefore, this is the person the reader is most likely to bond with” (Wright). The first-person narrative style establishes a more personal connection between the reader and the narrator, who in this case is also the main character. In “The Cask of Amontillado” the narrator uses a very familiar tone to connect with the audience as if he knew his reader: “You, who so well know the nature of my soul, will not suppose, however, that I gave utterance to a threat” (Poe, 739). This line is one of the

Edgar Allen Poe, the master of the macabre, understood the fine line between good and evil, between the holy and the profane. He knew how to penetrate the subconscious of his readers by subtly playing off of their most deeply held beliefs. In “The Cask of Amontillado”, Poe brilliantly interweaves religion into a dark tale of revenge. The effect is a once profound and haunting.

Ending in death most foul, “The Cask of Amontillado” and “The Tell-Tale Heart” feature revenge and a painstaking cruelty. Pushed to the point of insanity and retribution sought over trivialities, the narrators tell each story by their own personal account. The delivery of their confessions gives a chilling depth to the crimes they have committed and to the men themselves. Both men are motivated by their egos and their obsessions with their offenders. Prompted by their own delusions, each man seeks a violent vengeance against his opposition in the form of precise, premeditated homicide.

The theme of revenge in “The Cask of Amontillado” is the driving force for the entire short story. The

In his short story, “The Cask of Amontillado,” Poe tells the story of a man, Montresor, who is ridiculed and belittled by what initially appears to be the villain of the story, Fortunato. Poe is not often taken seriously as a writer because of his tendency to include his personal characteristics, experiences and feelings into his works. Thus, the expression of the man who “vowed revenge” REF appears to mirror vulnerability of that of an orphaned Poe. He uses this raw vulnerability to

The time of my life turned into the day of my death when my insults came back to haunt me. It started as I was wandering through the carnival, having the time of my life, when I saw my dearest friend, Montresor. We had first met fighting over the rare Amontillado. He wanted it and so did he, but I knew he did not know enough about it to respect and enjoy it. My insult of his knowledge ruined his reputation and he lost everything. Somehow he got passed it and now we became dear friends, at least I thought so.

Depressed at an early age this incredibly talented author resorted to drinking to reveal him from some of the pain, with many deaths and being surrounded by despair he quickly became an alcoholic. The story The Cask of Amontillado is about an alcoholic man who buries another man alive for insulting his name many times. Going this extreme means he would have to have a true understanding of revenge making the story have a creepy feel.

As I read about different types of literary criticism, I felt compelled to apply the Marxist school of literary criticism to Poe’s short story “The Cask of Amontillado.” The Fortunato character appears to have a rising distinguished social status, a nobleness forming an equality, and or possibly surpassing the Montresor character. This changing social status acts as a symbol of the status the Montresor family name and crest used to have but it’s in decline. The success of the Fortunato creates the thousand injuries that aggravate the Montresor to plot and commit murder for revenge of the Fortunato’s success.