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Literary Analysis - Cask of Amontillado Essay examples

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In "The Cask of Amontillado" Edgar Allan Poe takes us on a journey into the mind of what many would perceive as a mad man. The story tells of what seems to be a horrible revenge made even more horrible by the fact that the vengeance is being taken when no real offense had been known. This notion sets the mood for true evil. The plot of the story is simple. Montresor takes revenge on his friend Fortunato by luring him into the wine cellar under the family estate. There he leads Fortunato into the depths of the catacombs where he buries him alive by walling him into a tomb in the wall. Was Montresor mad or was it premeditated murder?
"Nemo me impune lacessit" (No one attacks me with impunity). This seems to be the theme running through the …show more content…

Montresor gave him a bottle of De Grave, which Fortunato emptied and then tossed the bottle into the air with a definite symbolic gesture. At this point, Fortunato was sure that Montresor didn't understand the gesture because it belonged to the secret order of the Masons, an order that Fortunato was certain that Montresor couldn't belong to, thus hitting Montresor another insult and, unsuspectingly, bringing Fortunato closer to his death. Fortunato then showed him another sign of the masons; a trowel, which he brought with him. This is, of course, a double irony since the trowel is not only an instrument used by real masons, but it is one of the emblems of the Masonic Order, and in this case it will become a tool used in the demise of Fortunato. Fortunato implies that Montresor is not worthy enough to be a member of the Masonic Order. Little does Fortunato knows, in a few moments, Montresor will become a Master Mason.
The men proceed down the hall of the catacombs were numerous relatives of the man that hates him are buried. Montresor tells Fortunato the Amontillado is but a little farther in a crypt at the end of the hall. Is it a fate or a calculated acted the crypt was the exact size needed for Montresor to entomb Fortunato? Fortunato is so inebriated he doesn't realize Montresor has chained him the crypt wall and begins to layer the bricks that will become his permanent home. All of a sudden Fortunato screams and Montresor is frighten, but

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