A friend is someone who can be trusted, but what happens when that trust no longer exists? In The Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allen Poe, Fortunato finds the answer to that question. Fortunato is an intelligent wine expert, but is expertise is what ends up getting himself killed. In Italian, the name Fortunato means fortunate, something that Fortunato is not by the end of the story. Montresor acts friendly towards Fortunato, but deep down he only feels hate towards Fortunato. Both Montresor and Fortunato are proud and affluent in different ways, but they both have downfalls that lead to their tragedy in the end. In The Cask of Amontillado Edgar Allen Poe’s use of language and irony show the misfortune of Fortunato and help the reader to understand the dynamic between the men. Although Fortunato and Montresor are different, they both want the same thing. Poe has a unique style of writing and uses great literary elements in his stories. The theme of deception and revenge in The Cask of Amontillado is justified with the use of …show more content…
His confessional proves the logic that, although he was successful with his plan for revenge, he has not been able to live in peace. The theme of “The Cask of Amontillado” is that of revenge and the deceiving way one man will accomplish his goal. Poe’s use of irony and humor adds to the darkness of the storyline. Montresor’s crest and motto are a symbol of his pride. Montresor, knows that if he does not go through with the destruction of Fortunato, he has not fully avenged himself or his family. Montresor plans Fortunato’s demise through the use of a symbolic figure, a cask of wine. Unfortunately, in the end, the cask symbolizes the place where Fortunato’s body will rest. Poe does an excellent job of conveying the theme of the story, and bringing forth distinctive examples of literary elements that are meant for gothic
This describes the scene in which Fortunato realizes Montresor had begun encasing him. Poe’s haunting images and details furthered the suspense.
There was never a scarier writer than the mysterious Edgar Allan Poe.One of his many great stories includes”The “Cask of Amontillado”. This is a story of two men that are friends. One of the friends, Fortunato insults Montresor in either a physical or verbal way. Edgar Allen Poe loves to keep reader wondering so he leaves the insult pretty open-ended. Later on in the story, Montresor looks to get revenge on Fortunato in a very clever and deceitful manner. Through his use of carefully constructed foreshadowing, symbolism, and irony, Poe creates a mood that is both chilling and horrifying in “The Cask of Amontillado”.
The Cask of Amontillado is the story of and envious man by the name of Montresor who has devised a plan to kill one of his long term friends Fortunato. Montresor devised this plan in the beginning of the story after Fortunato had pulled one joke to many while at a party surrounded by many of their close friends. Montresor while at the party remained calm however while still laughing and cheering with Fortunato he started to develop his plot to get his revenge on Fortunato. In the story Montresor while plotting his crime says, “I had to keep my true feelings to myself for not only must I punish but punish with impunity” (Poe). While Montresor plans the murder of Fortunato, Fortunato is simply enjoying life and his wealth. During carnival Montresor sees a drunk Fortunato and ceases his opportunity. A drunk Fortunato walks over to Montresor and gives him a friendly greeting. Montresor sees this as an opportunity to take Fortunato away from the festivities by using both his weakness for wine and his pride against him. Montresor does this by tricking Fortunato into thinking that he had recently brought a cask of Amontillado and he needed Luchesi to distinguish if it was actually Amontillado. Fortunato, who feels that he is the best wine tester in all of Italy quickly replies, “Luchesi cannot tell Amontillado from Sherry” (Poe) . Montresor knowing the pride and arrogance of Fortunato then says, “"And yet some fools will have it that his taste is a match for your own." (Poe) . That
William Doxey believes, "we are told from the beginning that Fortunato's weakness is his pride in his connoisseurship in wine. It is his pride that hooks him"(266). Both Marie Bonaparte and William Doxey believe that it is Fortunato's weakness for wine that gets him in trouble. Montresor also mentions his rival at wines, "As you are engaged, I am on my way to Luchesi. If anyone has a critical turn it is he"(150). When asked about his cough, "Fortunato replies, not with courtesy, but with prideful determination: 'Let us go never the less'"(Doxey 266). Very often a man's prideful remarks or decisions can get the best of him. It seems that Fortunato could not let himself be outdone. There is the theory of perversity that Montresor tried to use to get Fortunato down into the vaults. J. Rea explains, "A part of Poe's theory of perversity is that we want to hurt or kill or to bury alive someone because he has been good to us. It is an unbelievable desire"(59). She also believes, "Montresor inaccurately measures Fortunato's intellect and succeeds in his plan only through the accident of the similarity of perversity and courtesy"(62). She believes that the courtesy of Fortunato, insisting that his cough is nothing to worry about, is what lets them continue their trip to his death. Rea states, "Perversity always makes one do what he should not;
In the article “Confession within a confession: Poe’s brave new world in “the cask of amontillado”, the author places his opinion the subject of what happens in the story. The author points out that both the characters in the story are indeed friends. The author points this out to the reader by stating that Fortunato fallows his friend, Montresor, deep into the catacombs under his house. Another argument that the author states, is that Montresor’s’ reason in killing his friend is anger at his friends new wealth with his old wealth that he has. The author as well states that Fortunato is a fool in the story. Fortunato is dressed as a fool for carnival, adding to Montresor’s’ view of his own friend. Another point is that Montresor in his confession
In “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe is a tale of revenge. Edgar Allan Poe uses many ironic elements throughout the short story like characterization by using name meaning, costume, and dialogue. Irony defined as a feeling, tone, mood, or attitude contrary to what is expected. The author often uses irony as a literary device to make readers emphasize a point in the story. Poe uses this the irony to categorize the character’s certain traits to predict the story.
In The Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allen Poe, the dark side of human nature is exemplified through the character of Montresor and his victim, Fortunato. Montresor is a manipulative and vengeful person. These characteristics lead to the death of Fortunato, a man who has wronged him. Through the acts, words, and the thoughts of the character, one is able to see him carry out his plan for revenge.
To begin with, “The Cask of Amontillado” is a story of revenge in which Montresor, the protagonist, retaliates to the “1000 injuries of Fortunato” (Poe 1) that he had bore; by meticulously planning the murder of his foe. Montresor seeks to avenge the insults made to his ancestral family name by Fortunato.
“Poe”, the master of symbolic writing tells of a murder that had occurred 50 years’ prior of a once known friend named Fortunato, However, Fortunato had insulted Montresor’s family one to many times. The symbolisms used in the story was genius, such as the time setting; The Carnival Season, which symbolizes the time of celebration, renewal, freedom, and secrets. Another symbol of time is the hour in which the plot chooses to act upon its vengeance, “It was about dusk, one evening during the supreme madness of the carnival season” (Montresor, 237). Next, there is the crafty way names are used in the story to reveal characters and personalities, such as, “Montresor” reminds the reader of “Monster” and “Fortunato” reminds one of “Fortune”. The Montresor’s Family Coat of Arms, reveals to the reader that no one can do anything wrong or questionable to the Montresor’s without punishment or justice repaid. Finally, the symbols used to fully explain everyone in detail, as in, the clothing worn; Fortunato wore a fool’s costume and a jester hat. This leads the reader to believe he was playing a fool but also weighing the scales of justice. The mentioning of masons was a tricky use of two definition of one wording, therefore, symbolizing two separate classes of people within the story. The story is a gothic masterpiece delivered to the reader as only the mind of “Poe” could
Edgar Allan Poe’s The Cask of Amontillado is thought to be one of his most popular vengeful short novels. The two main characters, Montresor and Fortunato are re-acquainted friends who meet each other at The Carnival. Montresor has intentionally planned to lure Fortunato to his own death by deceiving him to believe that Fortunato is coming to Montresor's family catacombs to taste a fine wine “Amontillado”. After Montresor leads Fortunato into the crypts, Montresor eventually chains Fortunato up in a secluded section and mortars him behind a brick wall while he is still alive. The story ends with Montresor throwing a flaming torch into the small opening while he continues to put the last brick in place, essentially burning Fortunato alive. Edgar Allan Poe creates conflict between characters Montresor and Fortunato which primarily creates the major theme of revenge in this story. Edgar Allan Poe depicts setting in this novel by portraying death by illustrating human bones, within a cold and damp crypt to contribute to the eerie theme of revenge. Montresor's characterization is expressed through the betrayal of his friend, which adds another element to the theme of revenge in this story. In Edgar Allan Poe’s The Cask of Amontillado, Edgar Allan Poe utilizes conflict, setting, and characterization to create a theme of revenge.
In the short story “The Cask of Amontillado”, the author Edgar Allan Poe allow the reader to be a participant in the story. The story is told by Montresor who shows a rancor against Fortunato for a displeasure that is never textualized defined. Montresor leads an intoxicated Fortunato into a series of halls under his palazzo with the promise of a taste of Amontillado. Throughout the story the, the author uses the first-person point of view to describe Montresor surroundings and show us his thinking, and his feelings.
Though Fortunato is an intelligent wine expert, his expertise leads him to his death. In Italian the word Fortunato means fortunate, something that he is not by the end of the story. In “The Cask of Amontillado” Edgar Allan Poe uses foreshadowing and dramatic irony and verbal irony to show Fortunato’s misfortunes which eventually lead to his death.
In “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allen Poe, the dark side of human nature is illustrated through the character of Montresor and his victim, Fortunato. Montresor is a manipulative and vengeful person whom is obsessed with the downfall of Fortunato. Through the acts, words, and the thoughts of Montresor, one is able to see him carry out his plan for revenge.
Edgar Allen Poe’s tale of murder and revenge, “The Cask of Amontillado”, offers a unique perspective into the mind of a deranged murderer. The effectiveness of the story is largely due to its first person point of view, which allows the reader a deeper involvement into the thoughts and motivations of the protagonist, Montresor. The first person narration results in an unbalanced viewpoint on the central conflict of the story, man versus man, because the reader knows very little about the thoughts of the antagonist, Fortunato. The setting of “The Cask of Amontillado”, in the dark catacombs of Montresor’s wine cellar, contributes to the story’s theme that some people will go
Anyone who knows anything about Edgar Allan Poe’s work probably knows that he is a very dark writer. This holds true in his short story, “The Cask of Amontillado.” “The Cask of Amontillado” follows the character Montresor through the Carnival where he meets up with his friend Fortunato, who is a wine connoisseur. Fortunato has recently crossed a line by insulting Montresor and does not quite know what is coming his way that night. Edgar Allan Poe uses the literary element of irony in order to portray the theme of revenge within “The Cask of Amontillado.”