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Flaws In The Cask Of Amontillado

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An unreliable narrator is like a tour guide without a map- they take you on a journey with good intentions, but they made many mistakes. Basically, what this means is that everyone has flaws; and the rest is dependent on what their intention is. Imperfect characters are routinely used in short stories, mainly because every protagonist and antagonist has an intention of some sort. The flaws often add to their character. If there were no flaws, then several elements of the story would be missing; specifically in the narrator. Flawed characters add meaning or conflict to the short stories; which is the most important reason that the characters appeal to the readers.
Most stories do not begin with a flawless protagonist; or a perfect antagonist. …show more content…

But what is different about this story is that the main character is a truly vindictive and unforgiving character when the story begins; but they still hold the place of the protagonist. This is because a character named Fortunato is Montresor’s “opponent” or enemy. Montresor’s ultimate goal is to get revenge on Fortunato for the things he had done to him; and decides to lure him to his own brutal fate. His character is revealed almost immediately; as he describes his plan and puts up a facade to welcome Fortunato. He says “ he did not perceive that my to smile now was at the thought of his immolation.”(212). His obligation to kill this man shows his vengeful personality, and also reveals that he is definitely not flawless. However, his opposition to Fortunato is what creates conflict. Montresor chooses to commit this crime to punish Fortunato for the pain he had caused him. Fortunato is lured into the catacombs; promised some Amontillado. Montresor took advantage of him being intoxicated; so Fortunato foolishly follows him to the crypt in which he would be imprisoned. All this time, the reader doesn’t know what Fortunato’s evil deed was. We don’t know if anything deserved that kind of punishment. However, at the end of the story when Montresor is trapping him behind the wall, Fortunato says his final words. Montresor says “those words I hearkened in vain for a reply...no answer...my heart grew sick.”(217). He shows remorse for the tragedy he caused. Montresor was about as foolish as his deceased acquaintance. This factor; this flaw; is what caused these events in the story to happen. He the main character not been flawed, there would be no base for the conflict in the

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