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Why Is The Cask Of Amontillado Important

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Kaitlin Hunter Mrs. Laszik ENGL 1302.001 27 Oct 2017 The Cask of Amontillado One of the most memorable short stories by the American writer, mainly known for his gothic literature “The Cask of Amontillado”, written by Edgar Allan Poe is short story about revenge against an “old friend” who betrayed another. This strong expression of gothic literature through the drastic change of settings and surroundings. Also, the main character’s, Montressor, narration of the story that he has kept to himself for half a century only adds to the sinister, dark night that leads the two men into the cold, wet catacombs for only one to return. Although it is never revealed to the reader who Montressor is telling his darkest secret for all of these years …show more content…

Its walls had been lined with human remains, piled to the vault overhead, in the fashion of the great catacombs of Paris. Three sides of this interior crypt were still ornamented in this manner. (Poe 119) The reader is shown how Poe intended you to feel as if you were in the catacombs as well through this gothic literature. While Poe made the setting a critical factor in this story, he also provided the readers the main character’s point of view. In addition to Montressor being the central character in “The Cask of Amontillado” and with that he provides his point of view with the way he describes his unrelenting drive to get his revenge against Fortunato. The author decides to make the narrator as Montressor to show this story in first person to get his perspective, thoughts, and actions through his eyes for the night ahead. In the beginning of this story, Montressor is giving his thoughts toward Fortunato to show the many expressions he delivers to make this story complete: It must be understood that neither by word nor deed had I given Fortunato cause to doubt my good will. I continued, as was my wont, to smile in his face, and he did not perceive that my smile now was at the thought of his immolation” (Poe 116). This perspective makes the reader consider how different this story would be if it were written in Fortunato’s point of view. Would we know what he did to dishonor

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