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Comparing Justice In The Cask Of Amontillado And Barn Burning

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Both stories “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allen Poe and “Barn Burning” by William Faulkner express a crime or injustice that has been committed. Each sotires author choose a different point of view, that was used to further develop the story and indicate the crime. The use of different points of view also offers the reader an insight into what the characters belief of justice as in both of the texts the character must define it for himself. Both which involved deciding between the good of the family or true justice and preserving the law.
The Cask of Amontillado” is told from the point of view of Montresor, am man during for revenge against the injustice caused by Fortunato to his family. Eveidnet from the use of Montresor’s thought …show more content…

Exploiting his weak point, that he was a wine connoisseur, he lured him into the catacombs to seek his revenge. Montresor’s crime remained unnoticed and nearly 50 years later he states, “For half a century no mortal has disturbed them. [Fortunato’s bones] In pace requirscat [rest in peace]” (Poe 330). Accompanying these crimes are sense of false justice for Montresor. When Montresor has Fortunato in his family's catacomb he says “Nemo me impune lacessit” (Poe 327) his family's coat of arms, meaning that none is to offend his family and be exempt from punishment, according to the foot notes. While aparat of the normal dialogue, the statement still represents something deeper, Fortunato’s actions against the Montresors can not go unpunished and Montresor must seek justice; even if that it may not be true justice by taking the life of another. Nevertheless, it is the form of justice that he seeks, and his eyes, it is not just for him more for his family's sake. The author's use of a first person narration by Montresor gives the reader a look into his mind a shows the motive for his actions. As he proclaimed in the beginning of the story, “The thousand injuries of Fortunato I boore as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult I vowed revenge” (Poe …show more content…

The crime committed that was the main focus of the story was Abner Snopes had pyromaniac tendencies. Abner Snopes would set fires to when he felt it was necessary, that was his way of getting justice with someone. It is during this story specifically where he sets fire to Major de Spain’s barn after he ruined Major de Spain’s rug. The reader gains the most information from Abner Snopes’ son and the story's protagonist, Sartoris “Sarty” Snopes through the use of intermittent first person dialect. His father forces him to participate in his barn burnings, or at least with the one involving Major de Spain, as he requests Sarty to “Go to the barn and get that can of oil we were oiling the wagon with,’ he said. The boy did not move Then he could speak. ‘What…’ he cried. ‘What are you…’ ‘Go get that oil,’ his father said. ‘Go.’” (Faulkner 341). Sarty plays a vital role in the story as to the outcome, side with his father and family, or with actual justice. Which as he was following his father's mandate, he pondered the thought of ending this all now, “I could run on and on and never look back, never need to see his face again. Only I can’t. I can’t” (Faulkner 341). The author gains the knowledge of the conflicting emotions of loyalty versus what is morally right that Sarty is experiencing through these interjections of first person thought the story. Nearly fed up with his father's actions, he decides

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