Edgar Allan Poe wrote the Cask of Amontillado using many terms and hidden statements that added to the suspense of this revenge story. He writes of two characters using a precise word choice that allows the reader to gain more of a sense of what is going on and understand the plot of the story better. The story begins at Mardi Gras in Italy where the narrator, Montresor meets his friend Fortunato. Before this begins there are 3 paragraphs that open the story up by giving some sort of clue to the revenge in this story. Montresor speaks of the rules of revenge and ultimately he fails at all of them. He tells his story on his deathbed in a Catholic deathbed confession when he says “You, who so well know the nature of my soul…” (Poe 74) therefore making him break the first rule, don’t get caught. He …show more content…
Mason can mean part of the brotherhood as Fortunato was or a bricklayer which is ironic because when Montresor goes to bury him alive he lays bricks to build a new wall encasing Fortunato in the crypt. Poe uses various forms of irony in his writing to foreshadow some of the bad things that were to come. He names the story The Cask of Amontillado so that it sounds like the “Casket” of Amontillado because the Amontillado was the lure Montresor used and in the end led to Fortunato’s downfall. He also gives the name Fortunato to the victim, ironic because he was all but fortunate in this story. Fortunato is given his second bottle of wine in the crypt named de Grave, the grave, which shows that he was going to die there and the wine was helping lead him to his demise. Edgar Allan Poe added many different illusions and word choices that enhanced the story. He used ironic words to decide Fortunato’s fate and did it through a plot of
Edgar Allan Poe’s short story “The Cask of Amontillado” is told through the eyes of a wine enthusiast, called Montresor. The author chooses to write the story through Montresor’s point of view, because it makes the reader really think, and shows them how a murderer thinks. It also adds suspense, leading up to the immolation of Fortunato. In the story Montresor talks about how he is in a toxic friendship, with a man named Fortunato. Montresor apparently suffered many injuries due to Fortunato, but when Fortunato insults him, Montresor can not tolerate it any more. He swears revenge; however, he takes it to the next level. Throughout the story, information is exposed about Montresor's personality. He paints Fortunato out to be a terrible
Edgar Allan Poe is a famous writer in writing detective stories and horror stories. One of his horror stories, “The Cask of Amontillado” was talking about how a man took his revenge to his friend. However, to look deeply in this story, I found that this story was not just simply a horror tale about how a man gets his revenge in the safest way. Instead, it also demonstrates much irony in several areas: the title, the event, the season, the costume, the environment, the characters’ personalities, a man’s dignity and cockiness and at the end, the public order. he are
In this story the character of Montresor is revealed through his own words. When he reveals he is going to punish Fortunato for merely insulting him, that he has planned the whole act of vengeance, and that he has been playing as being Fortunato’s friend, we know we are dealing with a deranged personality. His character is also revealed with references to his family. It is almost as if Poe has Montresor’s ancestors tell the reader how nicely he fits into the family tree. His legacy from his family motto “No one attacks me with impunity” and a coat of arms that depicts a serpent whose last wish before death is to poison the foot that crushed it. Does the fruit of ever fall far from the tree? Montresor is as evil as his forebears were. He shows no remorse about what he has done, even in old age. When he says, “May he rest in peace” at the end of the story, the reader gets the feeling he means, “ I hope you stay there and rot” rather than, “I hope you found joy and peace in heaven.”
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.
It is Edgar Allan Poe's intense use of symbolism and irony throughout the Cask of Amontillado that establishes the short story as an indeed interesting candidate worthy of thorough analysis. The skillful use of these devices are utilized by the author to create this horrific and suspenseful masterpiece.
For example, Montresor smiles at him, but Fortunato does not know that his smile was, “at the thought of [his] immolation”. Montresor will do something harmful to Fortunato since he tells the reader he will. He wants the story to be mysterious, but also predicting. In addition, the repetitiveness of the jingling of the bells throughout the story, and at the end, “there came forth in return only a jingling of the bells” which was the last sound he heard. The little clues that Poe uses are revealing to the near future in his writing. The author wants the reader to be thrilled and excited to see the outcome of the story. Dramatic Irony and foreshadowing are important because they have a mysterious and thrilling theme of the story which makes the reader more
Vengeance and murder infects the minds of Montresor and Fortunato upon an exchange of insult in Edgar Allan Poe’s "The Cask of Amontillado”. This is the story of pure revenge after Forturano disrespects Montresor. The story follows the characters meeting up at a carnival and eventually the disguised Montresor lures Fortunato into the catacombs of his home by convincing him that he acquired something that could pass for Amontillado, a light Spanish sherry. Fortunato grows eager to taste this wine and to determine for Montresor whether or not it is truly Amontillado. He leads him back to the catacombs of his home and carries out his plot to bury him alive. Edgar Allan Poe writes from a mysterious first person perspective, uses colorful symbolism and situational irony to present the man's inner self, in turn revealing that revenge is fundamentally infeasible.
Montresor, the narrator of the story, has decided to exact revenge on his so called friend
Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado” is a short story illustrating how pride leads to the downfall of two men. At the story’s heart is the tale of Montresor, the protagonist, getting revenge on a former friend, Fortunato. Poe’s characterization of Montresor shows a sinister, proud man, obsessed not only with his revenge but also not getting punished himself. “It must be a perfect revenge, one in which Fortunato will know fully what is happening to him and in which Montresor will be forever undetected” (Morsberger 334). Poe’s portrayal of Montresor and his revenge depends mainly on his use of three artistic tools: a first-person narrative, dramatic irony, and symbolism. A brief examination of these three
The Cask of Amontillado is considered to be one of the best short stories. Written by Edgar Allan Poe in first person and having all the main events as a three hundred page fiction book, The Cask of Amontillado is a complete novel. This short story has several themes which function from the first page of the story such as: suspense, fear, and revenge.
Edgar Allan Poe portrays conflict by creating tension between Montresor and Fortunato. In the story, tension is merely only seen through the eyes of Montressor because of the animosity that he has against Fortunato for the cursing of his family's name which was one of an old and honored one. Montresor states his revenge by saying “The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult, I vowed my revenge.” Montresor is stating that he had been able to bear insults, but once his family's name was insulted, he was driven to seek revenge from this humility. Montresor's evil intentions to murder Fortunato come solely from Fortantos insulting demeanor. The conflict that is shared between Fortunato and Montresor is the main factor which creates the theme of revenge in this story.
The mood of The Cask of Amontillado is dark because of Poe’s use of deceptive dialogue. Montresor’s deceitful language combined with Fortunato’s clueless drunkenness provides a perfect opportunity for the reader to understand or have an idea of what is to come. Poe writes, “ I drink,” Fortunato said, “ to the buried that repose around us.” “
“The Cask of Amontillado” is a short story of revenge by Edgar Allen Poe. Taking place during a carnival in Italy not expecting a dreadful surprise as Montresor confronts fortunato at the carnival and says he has Amontillado. Montresor has had enough of Fortunato's silly games that made him look bad and vowed for revenge. Montresor leads Fortunato through the catacombs and gave him alcohol to help him stay drunk. Montresor finally reaches to the end of the catacombs to a dead end.
“The Cask of Amontillado” is a story rife with symbolism, irony and psychological horror brought on by the writing that Edgar Allan Poe has been known for throughout literary history. The story follows Montresor, a man who was insulted by his friend Fortunato, as he enacts his revenge for the betrayal. Poe’s use of Gothic rhetoric adds to the horror and violence of the story as a whole but more so on a psychological level. The setting brings about a constant flickering of emotion between freedom and confinement, causing the reader to be in a constant hyperaware state throughout the reading. Poe used symbolism all through this story and managed to tie it in with the setting causing an even more sinister vibe to take hold.
“The Cask of Amontillado” is an interesting character sketch though it is best analyzed in terms of mood and setting. In some ways the characters are a bit flat but in many ways they explore multiple literary dimensions. Any analysis of Fortunato must begin with a look at his name. Fortunato means fortunate, however, it can hardly be argued that he is a very fortunate person, at least in the end. The irony here is doubtlessly not lost on the majority of readers and is just as doubtlessly intentional by Poe.