Interpreting the Theme of Retribution Throughout various short stories, poems, novels and other forms of literary works, authors commonly choose to interpret the theme of revenge. This theory applies specifically to Edgar Allan Poe’s “A Cask of Amontillado” because throughout the entirety of the story, the protagonist strives to achieve vengeance upon a man who wronged him by insulting his family. For the protagonist, Montresor, this revenge must come in its ultimate form, meaning that he must murder Fortunato, the man at fault. Poe divulges into the theme of retribution by utilizing literary techniques such as a vivid setting and forms of irony to aid the reader in fully grasping theme. The setting, which includes the time and place of this …show more content…
Situational irony relates to the setting in conveying how Montresor planned his revenge so meticulously: “Throwing them aside, I soon uncovered a quantity of building stone and mortar. With these materials and with the aid of my trowel, I began vigorously to wall up the entrance of the niche” (532). For the carnival celebrations, Montresor ironically dressed as a mason, carrying tools such as a trowel. Masons are constructors or builders who are known for constructing brick walls or buildings. This costume choice is extremely specific for Montresor because he chooses to enact revenge on Fortunato by burying him alive in an enclosed brick wall. Again, this is how Poe utilizes the literary writing technique of irony to further divulge into the theme of retribution. Like Montresor, Fortunato also decided to dress in an oddly ironic costume,“He had on a tight fitting parti-striped dress, and hushed was surmounted by the conical cap and bells. I was so pleased to see him that I thought I should never have done wringing his hand,” (528). Fortunato chose his costume to be a jester, or fool, which ironically describes his character in the plot. Fortunato can be considered a fool because he has fallen victim to a false charade by allowing himself to believe Montresor has acquired a cask of amontillado during its off-season. Textually, Fortunato’s name is another example of irony because the root of the name is fortune, which his character seems to lack. He unfortunately falls victim to an ultimate plot for revenge which results in the loss of his
Irony occurs when the reader becomes painfully aware of what will become of Fortunato, even though he continues his descent into the catacombs in pursuit of the wine. Poe also adds to this effect, by calling the man Fortunato, who is anything but fortunate, and has him dressed in a clown's costume, which portrays him as a fool. While the settings in the two stories are very different, the different settings create the elements to the stories.
What can a character that lived in 1700s Italy have in common with a teenager in the 1960s? Though it may seem impossible Edgar Allan Poe’s character Montresor in The Cask of Amontillado shares similar characteristics to John Updike’s A&P teenage Sammy. Both of these characters share sarcastic tendencies and a need to make a name of himself. Though, each man differs in the way he goes about making that name. While Montresor decides murder is the way, Sammy quits his job to be noticed.
The leading example of irony in the story is the instance in which Fortunato tells Montresor that he does not have the ways of the mason. Poe writes,’”You are not of the mason”’(376). This quote helps promote dramatic irony because in the end the trowel and masonry skills are what kill Fortunato. He builds a wall around Fortunato using his trowel and his superb masonry skills. The last example of irony in the story has to do with the last couple of words that Fortunato utters: “‘He[Luchesi] is an ignoramus”’(377). This quote helps show the dramatic irony of Fortunato thinking that Luchesi is a fool or idiot while he was the fool and idiot throughout the whole story and because of his stupidity he down in the wine cellar about to be walled up and
However, Montresor has a characteristic that, not shown prominently, but given through little hints until the end. That secret characteristic is guilt, guilt for wanting to kill Fortunato. Some of those hints show at the carnival, down in Montresor’s catacombs, and even as Montresor is building in the wall to keep Fortunato in to die. At the carnival, Montresor calls Fortunato his ‘friend’. “It was about dusk, one evening during the supreme madness of the carnival season, that I encountered my friend.” (Poe). In addition, Montresor is talking about Fortunato, with the term friend being used. Another is, “I was so pleased to see [Fortunato]...” (Poe). In this part of the story, Montresor even says himself that he was happy to see his friend, Fortunato. He shows signs of actually liking Fortunato, but for strongly believing in his family motto and arms of revenge, he feels the need to get revenge on Fortunato for what he did to Montresor. Montresor greets Fortunato kindly and with warmth, “[m]y dear Fortunato, you are luckily met. How remarkably well you are looking to-day!” (Poe). Montresor
<br>The way the narrator treats his enemy is one of the clearest examples for ironic elements. When the characters meet, Montresor realises that Fortunato is afflicted with a severe cold, nevertheless he makes a point of him looking "remarkably well". Montresor acts in the most natural and friendly way towards the man object of his revenge, and even praises his "friend's" knowledge in the subject of wines. Also upon their meeting, Montresor begins a psychological manipulation of Fortunato. He claims that he needs his knowledge to ascertain that the wine he has purchased is indeed Amontillado. Furthermore, he acknowledges that Fortunato is engaged in another business (i.e.: the celebration of carnival), so he would go to Luchresi, who, one is made to believe, is a competitor of Fortunato's. To these words, Fortunato is forced by his pride to accompany Montresor to the vaults (where the Amontillado is kept), dissipate his doubts and also to prove his higher status than Luchresi as a connoisseur of wine. In fact, during their way down under in the catacombs, the twisted mind of Montresor, dares to give Fortunato the chance to go back, due to the almost unbearable dampness and foulness rampant in the vaults and Fortunato's state of health. The narrator clearly knows about the stubborn nature of Fortunato, and is
Edgar Allan Poe is one of the most celebrated literary authors of all time, known for writing very suspenseful, dramatic short stories and a poet; is considered as being a part of the American Romantic Movement, and a lesser known opinion is he is regarded as the inventor of the detective-fiction genre. Most recognized for his mystery and macabre, a journey into the dark, ghastly stories of death, deception and revenge is what makes up his reputation. The short story under analysis is a part of his latter works; “The Cask of Amontillado”, a story of revenge takes readers into the mind of the murderer.
Amontillado is a classically known amber-colored, medium-dry sherry wine, and in the case of Poe’s The Cask of Amontillado, it is the taste for Amontillado that results in the unfortunate and rather untimely death of Fortunato at the hands of the maniacal Montresor. Revenge is something that no one should have to experience; however, sadly sometimes, it is an inevitability that cannot be avoided. The Cask of Amontillado exposes Poe’s dark side and cruelty towards society and the world. In this short story, Poe tells about a rich drunk man, Fortunato, picking on a not-so rich friend, Montresor, but things quickly take a turn when Montresor decides to take out his revenge against his “pal.” Poe uses ethos, logos, and pathos deeply throughout his storyline to enhance the story and better the imagination of the characters, the deep meaning behind the setting, and the Amontillado’s secret.
Is there anything that someone could do to you that would cause you to commit murder? Could you get away with it? Montresor is the murderous narrator who has committed the perfect murder in just such a tale, “The Cask of Amontillado.” Montresor plots and kills an unwary friend/foe during carnival time for motives that are unclear. The author of this tale, Edgar Allan Poe, influenced by his somewhat tragic life and one of the most influential Gothic writers, uses symbolism and irony to show the multitude of complicated motives of the narrator in his famous horror story.
After Fortunato performs a hand symbol which apparently marks him as a mason, Montresor remarks that he is as well, jokingly pulling out a trowel, which is to be the primary tool of his enemy’s destruction. Fortunato himself, when Montresor is drinking to his health, says that he drinks to the “to the buried that repose around [them]” (Poe), whom he is about to join in burial and then death. The meaning of Montresor’s motto and crest, which Fortunato forgot, also stand as a warning: “Nemo me impune lacessit” states that none will harm him without retribution, and the arms, a foot crushing a serpent which is biting it, implies as much. Whether these are coincidentally so fitting to the story, were simply a strong influence on Montresor’s character, or may have been fabricated by Montresor, taking advantage of Fortunato’s ignorance to relish in his forthcoming defeat right before him, is not
In each of his stories Edgar Allan Poe writes about a character who commits atrocities, but feels that they are not responsible because some external factor drives them to it. Each of these external factors drive the character to become angry and this anger controls them. This theme of emotions overpowering reason is a common theme in much of romantic literature, because romanticism was a movement focused on emotion, rather than reason. Poe highlights this loss of control through the use of irony, between how the character acts normally and how they act when enraged. Through irony, Poe’s characters losing control to their emotions is a perfect example of the romantic theme of the power of emotion over reason.
A type of dramatic irony in the story can be seen in Fortunato’s attire at the carnival. Fortunato was dressed as a jester, though it was actually Montresor who was laughed at and ridiculed. Professor Charles N. Nevi, of the department of English in Medford, Oregon, writes about the irony in Fortunato’s dress when he says, “Fotunato’s dress is ironic, for a jester is not just a man to be laughed at; he is a man who makes others laugh by being aware of the frailties of mankind and then ridiculing them, but Fortunato is aware of very little and who ridicules nothing. It is Montresor who came closer to the role of jester,” (Nevi par.8). Here Professor Nevi suggests that Montresor is the one who is actually ridiculed and should be a better fit in the jester dress. These examples demonstrate Fortunato’s ironic misfortunes that lead to his eventual death.
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
Two prime examples of dramatic irony occurs when Montresor approaches Fortunato, who is intoxicated during the evening of the carnival. Montresor blissfully capitalizes on his friend’s state. Integrating to the dramatic effect, Poe names the character Fortunato, which designates, one of great fortune. The irony becomes apparent when Fortunato’s unfortunate fate is revealed. Poe’s ingenious utilization of verbal irony is witnessed in a memorable moment in the story, Montresor suggests to his friend that he should head home due to his cough, Fortunato’s responds “I shall not die of a cough.” Montresor’s knowingly replies, true –true.” (Poe 3). In another utilization of verbal irony, Fortunato utilizes the word “Ignoramus” to describe Luchresi; however, it is he who is indeed unaware of what is transpiring around him, and what is going to transpire to him. Montresor has provided Fortunato numerous times with the liberation to go; however, due to his intoxication, Fortunato fails to optically discern the designations Montresor has provided for
In “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allen Poe, the dark side of human nature is illustrated through the character of Montresor and his victim, Fortunato. Montresor is a manipulative and vengeful person whom is obsessed with the downfall of Fortunato. Through the acts, words, and the thoughts of Montresor, one is able to see him carry out his plan for revenge.
In the story, “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe, Montresor is seeking revenge against Fortunato who has insulted him and his family, and this drive for revenge is reflected in Montresor’s family coat of arms and motto. This motive of revenge is established at the beginning of the story when Montresor says, “THE thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult I vowed revenge.” Poe uses every move and word spoken by Montresor to reinforce the idea of revenge. Even as Montresor is cordial to Fortunato when they meet at the carnival, the reader knows Montresor is putting on an act to gain Fortunato’s confidence to bring about his revenge. Montresor greets Fortunato by saying, “My dear Fortunato,