The act of revenge means to avenge oneself or another by retaliating in kind or degree. Many people seek revenge for a variety of different reasons. While some situations warrant vengeance, other times it is unnecessary or goes too far. Every person is not the same, so it varies from person to person what initiates the want for revenge. In “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allen Poe, Fortunato wrongs his friend Montresor, the protagonist. Although what Fortunato does is unknown, Montresor seeks extreme revenge. Montresor completely blindsides Fortunato by doing this as he did not know he was in the wrong. A character analysis of Montresor reveals the theme of desire for revenge through exploitation of Fortunato.
Montresor’s first way of exploitation
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Fortunato is interested in sampling this rare wine that Montresor claims to have in such a large quantity. Montresor says, “But I have received a pipe of what passes for Amontillado, and I have my doubts” (Poe). Montresor shows doubt to Fortunato that his wine is authentic. He wants to lure him back to his vaults. Montresor speaks about his family motto, "Nemo me impune lacessit." This quote translates to, “No one provokes me with impunity.” This means that no one is exempt from punishment if they wrong Montresor. In his article, “The Cask of Amontillado,” Morsberger explains, “Knowing his victim’s vanity, Montresor baits him by saying that some fools argue that Luchesi’s taste is as fine as Fortunato’s.” By suggesting Luchesi is an expert, it basically assures that Fortunato will want to come to the vaults. He prides himself on being knowledgeable about wine and would not allow someone else to take his position. Many people exploit someone through what they love because their passion for it is blinding. Fortunato being so invested in the thought of tasting the wine causes everything else to go unnoticed. Despite already manipulating Fortunato, drawing him to the vaults through curiosity is not Montresor’s last way of …show more content…
When Montresor first meets Fortunato at the carnival, Fortunato is already noticeably tipsy. Morsberger states, “To accomplish it, Montresor waits until carnival season, a time of “supreme madness,” when Fortunato, already half-drunk and costumed as a jester, is particularly vulnerable.” After convincing Fortunato to come back his vault, Montresor does not stop him from drinking. Montresor continues to encourage Fortunato to drink more as they are walking through the catacombs. This continues to happen as they approach the vault. Montresor encourages Fortunato by saying, "But first, another draught of the Medoc" (Poe). Fortunato’s drunkenness allows Montresor to easily manipulate him as he has no indication of what is happening. Without being under the influence, Montresor knows his task would be much more difficult. By getting him drunk, Montresor is able to get him to do exactly what he wants. This makes the task of killing him almost effortless for Montresor. When Fortunato goes to search for the stored wine, Montresor suddenly chains him and traps him to the wall. In his article, “Method to the Madness,” Mcgrath explains, “As the story unfolds, with growing unease we begin to understand that it’s on account of these slights, and the insult that follows them, that Fortunato has been condemned, by Montresor, to be bricked up in the dank vaults of a crumbling palazzo.” Montresor taunts Fortunato and walls up the
Once Montresor has Fortunato in his home, he begins to express his dark and deceiving humor. I believe this is a necessity and one of the rules that Montresor must follow in order to feel full retribution. Montresor shows us this ironic behavior when he hands Fortunato a bottle of De Grâve to drink. Another humorous point of the story is
While walking through the cellar they engage in conversation regarding Montresor’s family crest. Montresor explains that it is "A huge human foot d 'or, in a field azure; the foot crushes a serpent rampant whose fangs are imbedded in the heel" (764). Here is a great example of symbolism for revenge, as the person being bitten completely stomps the snake. It is the first bit of possible foreshadowing Fortunato receives that he may be in trouble. As the discussion continues between Fortunato and Montresor, he mentions his family motto is "Nemo me impune lacessit" (764). This quote translates to “No one wounds me with impunity.” Montresor makes good on this when he brutally murders Fortunato. I found this quote interesting because this further shows the plot of revenge. Following this scene, Montresor only encourages him to turn back, you can almost sense hesitation or regret brewing within him.
In “The Cask of Amontillado”, Montresor is guilty of the cold-blooded murder of Fortunato and should go to jail for his crime. Montresor speaks of the “thousand injuries” Fortunato caused him and, more recently, the “insult” that Montresor cannot forgive. Vowing to seek retribution, Montresor comments on the importance of ensuring his own innocence throughout the process of revenge. He goes out of his way to be friendly to Fortunato. Other evidence that supports the crime as being preconceived includes Montresor preying on Fortunato’s weakness, his love of wine and his conceited nature. He praises Fortunato on his knowledge of wine and taunts him with the full barrel that he just purchased asking him for his expert opinion. In preparation
To begin with, Montresor taking revenge on Fortunato is quite evil. When Montresor trick Fortunato down to the cellar by using Fortunato’s ego and taste in wine it is very cool and calculating. In the text Montresor says, “ As you are engaged, I am on my way to Luchesi. If anyone has a critical turn, it is he. He will tell me--.” (Montresor 58) This plays off of Fortunato ego saying somebody else had a better taste in wine then he did. In like manner, Montresor was very happy and excited to see Fortunato during carnival. Which is just an act to lure Fortunato to the catacombs. Montresor says in his head, “ I continued, as was my wont, to smile in his face, and he did not perceive that my smile now was at the thought of his immolation.” (Montresor57) Furthermore, Montresor offers many times for Fortunato to turn back because of the cold or of his health. The short story states, “ Come sais Montresor, we will go back; your health is precious. You are rich, respected, admired, beloved; you are happy, as once I was.” This is cruel because once Fortunato gets to the bottom of the catacombs he will never get to turn back.
In my opinion, Montresor is a very clever man. He not only seek revenge, but he also was able to get this man boozed up and murder him. Montresor continuously asked Fortunato if he wanted to have a glass of wine and his reply was always “yes.” He was an intelligent man and knew how to get Fortunato to say yes. “At the most remote end of the crypt there appeared another less spacious. Its walls had been lined with human remains, piled to the vault overhead, in the
Montresor’s actions lend to his vengeful and manipulative nature. He lures Fortunato into the catacombs of his home to carry out his plans to kill Fortunato. In the first step of his plan, he boosts Fortunato’s ego by saying that Luchesi was almost as worthy a judge of wine as he. Then Montresor tricks Fortunato into believing that there is an
<br>The way the narrator treats his enemy is one of the clearest examples for ironic elements. When the characters meet, Montresor realises that Fortunato is afflicted with a severe cold, nevertheless he makes a point of him looking "remarkably well". Montresor acts in the most natural and friendly way towards the man object of his revenge, and even praises his "friend's" knowledge in the subject of wines. Also upon their meeting, Montresor begins a psychological manipulation of Fortunato. He claims that he needs his knowledge to ascertain that the wine he has purchased is indeed Amontillado. Furthermore, he acknowledges that Fortunato is engaged in another business (i.e.: the celebration of carnival), so he would go to Luchresi, who, one is made to believe, is a competitor of Fortunato's. To these words, Fortunato is forced by his pride to accompany Montresor to the vaults (where the Amontillado is kept), dissipate his doubts and also to prove his higher status than Luchresi as a connoisseur of wine. In fact, during their way down under in the catacombs, the twisted mind of Montresor, dares to give Fortunato the chance to go back, due to the almost unbearable dampness and foulness rampant in the vaults and Fortunato's state of health. The narrator clearly knows about the stubborn nature of Fortunato, and is
Montresor does this by flattering and acting concerned about the health of Fortunato when really his only concern is killing Fortunato. While in the wine cellar, Montresor says to Fortunato, “Come, we will go back; your health is precious. You are rich, respected, admired, beloved; you are happy, as once I was. You are a man to be missed. For me it is no matter. We will go back; you will be ill, and I cannot be responsible. Besides, there is Luchesi-.” Montresor does an excellent job of being Fortunatos’ friend and at the same time convinces him to continue drinking and telling him, “A draught of this Medoc will defend us from the damps.” Montresor was not trying to defend either one of them, his only purpose was to place Fortunato into a higher state of drunkenness. Montresor causes Fortunato to become so drunk that while he was being chained to the wall by Montresor, “He was too much astounded to resist.” “The Cask of Amontillado” is filled with many ironies and also life lessons; such as know who your real friends are. Fortunato thought his real friend was Montresor when, in reality, Montresor was anything but his friend. Not only did Montresor fake his sincerity towards Fortunato, he was also vengeful and very intelligent in his actions to kill Fortunato.
that he will have someone else taste the Amontillado, knowing that by doing this Fortunato will feel compelled to taste the wine himself. “As you are engaged, I am on my way to Luchresi. If anyone has a critical turn I is he. He will tell me…” In addition to being manipulative and vengeful, Montressor also displays condescending traits. Montressor addresses Fortunato in the catacombs by saying, “...your health is precious. You are rich, respected, admired, beloved; you are happy as once I was. You are a man to be missed.”
To lure Fortunato to his death and fulfill his thirst for vengeance, Montresor mentions he’s found a barrel of a rare wine called Amontillado. Punishment is the only thing that Montresor has in store for Fortunato instead of the wine
Edgar Allan Poe is one of the most celebrated literary authors of all time, known for writing very suspenseful, dramatic short stories and a poet; is considered as being a part of the American Romantic Movement, and a lesser known opinion is he is regarded as the inventor of the detective-fiction genre. Most recognized for his mystery and macabre, a journey into the dark, ghastly stories of death, deception and revenge is what makes up his reputation. The short story under analysis is a part of his latter works; “The Cask of Amontillado”, a story of revenge takes readers into the mind of the murderer.
In Edger Allen Poe’s The Cask of Amontillado the narrator, Montresor, seeks revenge against his friend Fortunato who he claims had cause him many injuries. The story takes place during carnival time and many are celebrating even Fortunato who was dressed as a clown and wore a colorful hat with bells. Fortunato had been drinking which made him even less aware of any sort of plot against him. Montresor lures him into his wine vaults and easily chains him to a wall deep inside a small crypt. Fortunato is too drunk to even comprehend what is happening or even resist. Finally Montresor builds a stone wall confining Fortunato inside to die. In the story we can distinguish many notable characteristics of Montresor. He may be perceived as heatless
Revenge can be a very violent and cruel thing and is not necessary to everyone to deal with. It can be very cruel because in most scenarios people can be seriously hurt, mentally and physically, and even killed. There has been many situations where people have been killed over a simple thing that they did to someone. In The Cask of Amontillado, by Edgar Allen Poe, this explains a very violent form of revenge. “A succession of loud and shrill screams, bursting suddenly from the throat of the chained form,
Revenge can be sweet, but in this case it is just down right grotesque! In Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado” it talks about a gentlemen named Montressor and how he is angry at Fortunato for insulting him in the past. Montressor will not let this go unpunished, so he thinks up a clever scheme to get back at him. This plan is in a way, ingenious but most definitely insane and crazy.
As they walk into Montresor’s damp vaults to get the wine, it is apparent that the narrator sent all his servants to the carnival to guarantee that only he and Fortunato were at the vaults at the time. After Fortunato is heavily intoxicated with wine, Montresor ceases his moment and chains him up to a stone wall, and finally buries him alive. From the moment the two get