In "The Cask of Amontillado" Edgar Allen Poe uses foreshadowing to convey the narrative's theme; humans have a great want for revenge which causes them to act in devilish ways. It is human nature to want vengeance on the people who wrong oneself. The protagonist, Montresor, wants revenge on the antagonist, Fortunato. In the narrative Montresor states, "The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult I vowed revenge"(Poe 61). Montresor tried to endure the injuries but he no longer could when Fortunato took his presence too far. As a result of this, foreshadowing is used to convey that it is human nature to seek revenge. In some cases, humans crave revenge so badly it makes them act with evil intentions. …show more content…
Later Montresor states, "Fortunato possessed himself of my arm; and putting on a mask of black silk and drawing a roquelaure closely about my person" (Poe 63). Furthermore, the black mask that Montresor puts on foreshadows death. The custom of wearing black at funerals dates back to the Roman Empire, where they would wear black as a sign of death and mourning. Montresor is almost mocking Fortunato by wearing "a mask of black silk". Montresor has knowledge of what is going to happen unfortunately, Fortunato does not. Due to the fact that black is a deathly color foreshadows that murderous actions will take place. By wearing the mask it makes Montresor feel a sense of security and protection, as if his evil side isn't veiling behind the mask. Montresor is second guessing himself; any person would do the same if carrying out a plan that involves murder. Montresor is finally confident that Fortunato has no interpretation on what is about to happen. After walking into the Catacombs even farther Montresor says, "It is this," I answered, producing from beneath the folds of my roqulaure a trowel"(Poe
What is revenge? It can boil a human’s brain and may feel like a scorching sandstorm brewing inside someone’s body. Humiliation, covetousness, dishonesty, and exasperation are all common reasons why the intricate mind of a human being may seek revenge. Of course revenge may satisfy individuals, teach victims the lesson of an eye-for-an-eye, and could very well show others that some people may not back down after being struck in the throat. However, two wrongs do not make a right, a person’s reputation may be permanently stained, and negative emotions will swarm the mind. Throughout “The Cask of Amontillado”, Montresor’s menacing mind is brimming with dark and diabolical thoughts of revenge. Edgar Allen Poe creates an interest for the
Foreshadowing is another literary device highly used in “The Cask of Amontillado.” An early instance of foreshadowing is seen in the title “The Cask of Amontillado.” In the title the word “Cask” closely resembles the word casket which refers to where a person lays after death. The title quickly draws attention that the story involves the death of a person. Another very important use of foreshadowing is in the first sentence in “The Cask of Amontillado.” Poe starts the story off with Montresor stating, “THE thousand injuries of Fortunato I had
However, in Montresor’s eyes, this “carnival” is a crazy event, since he was going to kill someone in this “carnival”. Therefore, during the event, Montresor wore a “black silk mask” and a “roquelaure”. Here, “black” can symbolize as a dead, evil and unlucky thing. It is just like the conspiracy that he set for Fortanato, without any hope and future. On the other hand, Fortanato wore a “tight-fitting parti-striped dress”, which is full of joy and happiness in the event. At this point, besides the season, the author also shows irony in Fortanato’s costume. It is because nobody would dress in colorful attire in his own funeral. It seems stupid for Fortanato dressed in this way.
The concept of revenge is one very known to human nature. Most people are familiar with the desire to get payback, though often individuals choose not to act on it as it is often a more fleeting emotion than lasting fascination. Being such a relatable and commonplace affliction, this feeling is also central in many works of fiction. The Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allan Poe and The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas both share a common plotline as they explore themes of betrayal, deception, and revenge. The protagonists, Montresor and Edmond respectively, both set out to seek revenge against those who they feel have done them wrong. The writing styles share a similar dark tone as the ideas of justice and deservingness are challenged through the characters’ actions.
The " Cask of Amontillado" is a story about revenge. To display revenge in this story, Poe uses mood and suspense to display that revenge can lead to negative intentions. Mood is a feeling that is conveyed to the reader through literary work. Suspense is a state or feeling of excited or anxious uncertainty about what may happen. In the “Cask of Amontillado” Poe uses mood and suspense to display that revenge can make you lose your humanity.
"The Cask of Amontillado" is one of Poe's best-known tales of horror. It is primarily about pride and revenge. “Foreshadowing is a literary device in which a writer gives an advance hint of what is to come later in the story” (Literary Device). Through the use of foreshadowing, Poe presents a horrific drama of two men. In the Cask of Amontillado, there are several examples of foreshadowing in the story.
In the book Clash of Kings, George R.R. Martin said, “I will hurt you for this. I don’t know how yet, but give me time. A day will come when you think yourself safe and happy and suddenly your joy will turn to ashes in your mouth, and you’ll know the debt is paid.” Revenge is a dangerous act and can lead to death and injury. Edgar Allan Poe wrote an eerie and sinister short story called “The Cask of Amontillado.” This story is told by a narrator named Montresor. He was insulted many times by a man named Fortunato. Montresor goes to great lengths to get revenge against his enemy. Montresor lures him into the Montresor family catacombs, keeps him drunk, and ends his life with chains and a trowel. Through his use of carefully constructed
In The Cask of Amontillado, Edgar Allen Poe displays the theme of revenge. In the story, Montressor narrates the story and feels he has been wronged by Fortunado and vows for vengeance against him. Montressor attempts to justify his future crime to the reader. “A wrong is unredressed when retribution overtakes its redresser. It is equally unredressed when the avenger fails to make himself felt as such to him who has done the wrong.” (Poe 101) Fortunado is unaware of the wrong he caused Montressor by insulting him. Montressor feels that this is reason enough for his retribution. “The thousand injuries of Fortunado I had borne as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult I vowed for revenge.” (Poe 101) The thought of revenge is
In the short story “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe tell of a man going to great extents to get revenge. Montresor holds a grudge against Fortunato because he has insulted him several times causing pain inside him to form and builds up day by day. Fortunato has a talent of tasting wine but needs to find a way not to express his feelings that much. Throughout the story, Edgar Allan Poe creates events in which he builds suspense. The author keeps his readers on their feel by having a surprise at every corner. Edgar Allan Poe demonstrates in “The Cask of Amontillado” how he uses the conflict to show the build of suspense, change of mood of the reader, develop the theme, reflect a change in the character/characters.
Feuds and arguments between individuals who may disagree with or dislike one another are a common occurrence in everyday life, often varying in degrees of intensity, but rarely reaching a point of extremity. However, in Edgar Allan Poe’s short story “The Cask of Amontillado”, This threshold of extremity is reached by the narrator of the story, Montresor, who explains that his acquaintance, Fortunato, has repeatedly and irreparably insulted him over the course of years, and uses it as justification to take justice into his own hands and seek retribution through murder, despite there being no proof of Fortunato's guilt other than Montresor’s claims. His motive for murdering Fortunato can be attributed to his state of mind, as Montresor’s lack of guilt, empathy, or remorse highlights him as a character with psychopathic tendencies. As the story progresses, Montresor’s cold and calculating nature leaves the audience full of dread and suspense while he lures the oblivious Fortunato towards his inevitable demise. The employment of rhetorical devices such as irony, theme, and structure builds the suspense for the ultimate climax of Poe’s gothic masterpiece.
Many people in today's world use revenge to satisfy their troubles or situations they are in. Often times people desire revenge so bad that it ends up driving them crazy. In the short story, ¨The Cask of Amontillado¨ by Edgar Allan Poe, this situation is displayed perfectly. A character by the name Fortunato triggered Montresor, which resulted in him developing a deeply thought out murder plan. This is why the theme, revenge can drive a person crazy, fits with this short story. This theme works because the author shows it through foreshadowing, verbal irony, and indirect characterization.
Violence is a vice that drives individuals to engage in immoral or criminal behaviors and actions. Often, violent individuals conduct violent acts whose outcomes they had not meant to occur. The literature piece The Cask of Amontillado has its storyline based on a carefully premeditated murder scheme orchestrated by Montresor on Fortunato. Throughout this story, it is made clear to the reader that violence takes not only physical but also emotional and psychological forms of harm. Montresor’s thirst for violent revenge against Fortunato does not just arise from nowhere. The story starts off with a statement offered by Montresor, where he reveals to the
A wise man once said, “ Destroy what destroys you.” destroying what destroys you is a common theme of revenge. When it comes to revenge, The Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allan Poe is the story to go to. The whole story and plot itself revolve around one word. Revenge. The story is based on Montresor wanting revenge for the one who wronged him, Fortunato. Therefore, the theme of The Cask of Amontillado is revenge. The author Edgar Allen Poe uses different literary elements to create this theme. The literary elements Poe uses include: foreshadowing, suspense, and irony.
People are constantly being commanded by the temptation of revenge and demolished by the aftermath of taking it. “I forced the last stone into place; I plastered it up. – For more than a half century no one has disturbed them” (Poe 8). In the story “The Cask of Amontillado”, Montresor is so hopelessly controlled by his desire for revenge, that he brutally murders his
I chose this symbol of a black silk mask because, Montresor wears his black mask and a cloak throughout the whole story. The black mask symbolizes darkness. While Fortunato wears a bright cap with bells on the end for the carnival, Montresor on the other hand wears a black mask and cloak. This gives the reader a mysterious vibe from him. He would wear this cloak and mask because he was onto something more sinister. He was planning to kill Fortunato and so he doesn’t want to be seen. His vibe is a dark and scary mood while Fortunato is drunk and totally oblivious to what is happening. Montresor had been planning to kill Fortunato throughout the whole story but was completely patient about it. An example from the story that shows this is, “Fortunato possessed himself of my arm and, putting on a mask of black silk and drawing a cloak closely about my person, I suffered him to hurry me to my palazzo” (pg. 2). I chose this example because it shows that while Fortunato is quite tipsy, Montresor patiently waits to lead him down into the catacombs where he would finish his job.