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Pride In The Cask Of Amontillado

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The Cask of Amontillado is a gothic short story, which revolves around the themes of vengeance and pride. The plot involves two men: Montresor, the narrator, who is an Italian aristocrat seeking revenge against the second main character: “Fortunato was a strong man, a man to be feared. But had one great weakness: he liked to drink good wine.” (68). A proud man who connoisseurship wines and who eventually walks to his own death trap . Irony is a manner of expression through which words or events convey a reality different from and even opposite to appearance or expectation. The use of such device in the story provides it with humor and wit, and makes the story sophisticated. The irony is detected through style, tone and the clear use of exaggeration …show more content…

Montresor remains pleased at himself because he already has his marvelous plan to kill his old long friend Fortunato. The very name “Fortunato” (68) would clearly imply that this is a man of good fortune, when the actual case is that he is about to suffer a mostly untimely demise: the end of his life. "the fortunate one." Yet, when we read the story we wonder: How can this fellow who gets buried alive, walled up in Montressor's catacomb-like wine celler, be "the fortunate one"? Of course, the irony is that Fortunato is well named after all. He is the one who receives absolution; he is the one who will attain release, the one who will go to heaven. It is Montressor who will gain Hell. ”I continued working. I could hear pulling at that chain shaking it widely.” (72). Poe would reminds the reader that Montresor and his palace is a place of dark confinement similar to being inside of the wet and lonely catacombs. ”The earth which formed the floor was cold and hard.We ere entering the last resting place of the dead of the Montresor’s family. Here too we kept our finest wine, here in the cool, dark, still air under …show more content…

The vaults are insufferably dampened cold. They are encrusted with bones,the narrator toasts to Fortunatos long life” Thank you, my friend. I drink to the dead who lie sleeping around us.”(70) .Already knowing that he was taking to effect the devilish crafted plan of revenge. Further evidence of ironic components is found with Montresor as a Mason. We anticipate this means he is a member of the distinguished group of men who work for construction. “Quickly I began to build a wall covering hole where Fortunate stood trembling.”(71). Yet he actually is a stonemason, someone whose job is to prepare and use stone for building. Montresor makes use of his skill as a mason as well as of the trowel he had shown his rival to build up the wall that will lock up Frotunato. When Fortunato is trapped behind the wall, Montreal surpasses Fortunato with yelling apparently to sympathize with the victim. ”Montresor what are you doing!?. He is evidently being ironic since he is actually delighted by what he has done and only stops screaming utill Fortunato is silent meaning dead. The story ends with Montresors words” In pace requiescat! (May he rest in peace). His words are unmistakably sarcastic: he has been the performer of the dreadful murder all alone and had been preparing ihis evil plan for years, then how could he pray for him to rest in

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