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Revenge In Edgar Allan Poe's The Cask Of Amontillado

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During the carnival season in Italy, Montresor planned murder to occur in an underground catacomb. In his short story, “The Cask of Amontillado,” Edgar Allan Poe describes Montresor’s scheme in which he takes drunk Fortunato’s life. Montresor’s perfect crime, created to take revenge on Fortunato, builds suspense, changes the mood of the reader, and develops an essential theme. Montresor has rigorous plan for vengeance, but suspense rises when he does the least expected gesture gesture, while the reason for revenge is undisclosed. Montresor has been hurt countless times, but when he’s insulted he feels imperative to take action. “The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as best I could, but when he ventured upon insult, I vowed revenge… I must not only punish, but punish with impunity”(1). Montresor, the antagonist, uses this quote to indicate that what he’s about to do next is completely justified. This builds up suspense, because the reader is not aware of the sole reason of why Montresor wants revenge with such desire and determination. Later on, when walking in the catacombs, the antagonist urges Fortunato to return. “Pass your hand… over the wall; you cannot help feeling the niter. Indeed it is very damp. Once more let me implore you to return” (6). The gesture Montresor has done builds utmost suspense, because the reader now has to infer why Montresor is doing the opposite of what he truly wants. The reader may not easily comprehend why Montresor would give

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