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Literary Analysis Of Cask Of Amontillado

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Literary Quality of The Cask of Amontillado

“The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allen Poe is a tale of vengeance taken by a man who professes that his friend betrayed him. The story is told from the point of view of Montresor and details his revenge on Fortunato, who he formerly considered his friend. Montresor is recalling the event fifty years after it occurred. Poe references the theme of revenge numerous times throughout the narrative by using symbolism to foreshadow Montresor's true intention of bringing Fortunato into the catacombs to seal him away. "The Cask of Amontillado" is a classic tale written with the purpose of entertaining the reader and providing the moral lesson treat others how you want to be treated.

To begin with, the author's tone of the story is cold. The reader is informed about Fortunato being at risk from the start. He chooses words like "punish" and "avenge" for Montresor to use when he speaks about his plans for Fortunato. Montresor is portrayed as believing he was doing the right thing by enacting his revenge on betrayer. With this false assumption in mind, it is heavily implied that Montresor is determined to get his revenge. Poe chooses to inform the reader that Fortunato is in danger with his word choice without directly telling his fate until the end of the story. By having the events leading up to Fortunato's death clearly laid out for the reader but having Fortunato so blissfully unaware and vulnerable Poe seems cold and apathetic towards

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