Ha Jin’s “Saboteur” and Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado” explain how both Mr. Chiu and Montresor chose to execute their plot of revenge. Both main characters seek out their revenge, however the differences are who is affected and how the revenge is plotted. Mr. Chiu was consumed by his anger and does not consciously contemplate his plan or who might be hurt in the process. Montresor, however, deliberately plans everything and his plot of revenge comes in a quiet, but dark manner. In Ha Jin’s “Saboteur,” Mr. Chiu is subjected to the horrors of police misconduct. He is wrongfully accused of disturbing the public and is therefore arrested by two police officers. When Mr. Chiu was in the Interrogation room, the chief of the bureau …show more content…
Mr. Chiu wanted revenge on the police, but he did not have a strategic plan. Once he saw the tea stand, his mind started to form his plot of revenge. Mr. Chiu made his way to numerous restaurants in close proximity to the police station, infecting as many people as possible with hepatitis. His plan of revenge, however, affected the lives of innocent people as well as children, who had nothing to do with the injustices of what had occurred in the police station. Montresor planned his revenge and meticulously put each detail into place. Montresor made sure “there was no one home” for he had “told the servants that they must not leave the palace” (Poe 2). However, he knew that the servants would disobey him and that “they would all leave as soon as my back was turned” (Poe 2). The wall in the wine cellar that was once built was taken down so that Montresor could leave Fortunato to die without the concern of people hearing him. Montresor deliberately caused the death of the one he sought his revenge on. Unlike Mr. Chiu, who with his anger and animosity for the police affected the lives of innocent people rather than the intended victims of his revenge. When Mr. Chiu achieved his revenge and hurt innocent people, he did not have a guilty conscience. In contrast, when Montresor planned and killed Fortunato, his “heart grew sick” and he hurriedly finished closing Fortunato in the wall (Poe 5). Therefore, showing that he had a guilty
Mr. Montresor stated that he intended to murder Mr. Fortunato, and even went as far as planning Mr. Fortunato’s tedious death, I find this very questionable of Mr. Montresor’s innocence. Mr. Montresor also hadn’t received a harmful threat from Mr. Fortunato, just insults; nor did Mr. Montresor receive any physical harm that would endanger Mr. Montresor’s life, therefore Mr. Fortunato was an innocent man, which is also quite questionable to Mr. Montresor’s innocence.
The concept of revenge is one very known to human nature. Most people are familiar with the desire to get payback, though often individuals choose not to act on it as it is often a more fleeting emotion than lasting fascination. Being such a relatable and commonplace affliction, this feeling is also central in many works of fiction. The Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allan Poe and The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas both share a common plotline as they explore themes of betrayal, deception, and revenge. The protagonists, Montresor and Edmond respectively, both set out to seek revenge against those who they feel have done them wrong. The writing styles share a similar dark tone as the ideas of justice and deservingness are challenged through the characters’ actions.
Revenge can bring out many people’s inner evil. In Edgar Allan Poe’s “Cask of Amontillado”, the main character, Montresor carefully plans revenge against Fortunato. Montresor is a man who vows vengeance against a professional wine taster named Fortunato. The wine taster insults Montresor, and he had enough of it. The insult sets him off and he plans a deadly and successful revenge. Throughout the story, Montresor attentively plans his revenge against Fortunato just like an expert.
What is revenge? It can boil a human’s brain and may feel like a scorching sandstorm brewing inside someone’s body. Humiliation, covetousness, dishonesty, and exasperation are all common reasons why the intricate mind of a human being may seek revenge. Of course revenge may satisfy individuals, teach victims the lesson of an eye-for-an-eye, and could very well show others that some people may not back down after being struck in the throat. However, two wrongs do not make a right, a person’s reputation may be permanently stained, and negative emotions will swarm the mind. Throughout “The Cask of Amontillado”, Montresor’s menacing mind is brimming with dark and diabolical thoughts of revenge. Edgar Allen Poe creates an interest for the
The issue of police brutality is an important issue in any society, and so is public health. Mr. Chiu, even as a proud academic, disregards all his education and knowledge on the subjects and proceeds to intentionally infect the local eateries with his untreated disease. “As if dying of hunger, Mr. Chiu dragged his lawyer from restaurant to restaurant near the police station, but at each place he ordered no more than two bowls of food. Fenjin wondered why his teacher wouldn't stay at one place and eat his fill. Mr. Chiu bought noodles, wonton, eight-grain porridge, and chicken soup, respectively, at four restaurants. While eating, he kept saying through his teeth, "If only I could kill all the bastards!” (Ha Jin, Saboteur) Even his lawyer was confused and surprised at his dark pucker covered and jaundiced face and strange behavior. Mr. Chiu might have started as an innocent
Many people in today's world use revenge to satisfy their troubles or situations they are in. Often times people desire revenge so bad that it ends up driving them crazy. In the short story, ¨The Cask of Amontillado¨ by Edgar Allan Poe, this situation is displayed perfectly. A character by the name Fortunato triggered Montresor, which resulted in him developing a deeply thought out murder plan. This is why the theme, revenge can drive a person crazy, fits with this short story. This theme works because the author shows it through foreshadowing, verbal irony, and indirect characterization.
Another indirect factor that could contribute to Montresor’s vengeful act, and thus the story’s theme of revenge, is his state of mind. Some critics have analyzed the opening line of this short story and have determined that it could contribute to an insane state of mind. When the opening line states, “The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult I vowed revenge,” it does not describe what the insult is. The fact that Montresor does not give a specific description of the insult leads many critics to believe that Montresor has acted irrationally in murdering Fortunato and that he is insane. Another example of Montresor’s insanity is found when he replies to Fortunato’s screams (Baraban). In the story, Montresor states, “I replied to the yells of him who clamoured. I re-echoed, I aided, I surpassed them in volume and in strength” (Poe 1616). Critics view this statement as contributing to Montresor’s unstable state of mind, and thus contributing to his act of revenge (Baraban).
Revenge can be sweet, but in this case it is just down right grotesque! In Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado” it talks about a gentlemen named Montressor and how he is angry at Fortunato for insulting him in the past. Montressor will not let this go unpunished, so he thinks up a clever scheme to get back at him. This plan is in a way, ingenious but most definitely insane and crazy.
Violence is a vice that drives individuals to engage in immoral or criminal behaviors and actions. Often, violent individuals conduct violent acts whose outcomes they had not meant to occur. The literature piece The Cask of Amontillado has its storyline based on a carefully premeditated murder scheme orchestrated by Montresor on Fortunato. Throughout this story, it is made clear to the reader that violence takes not only physical but also emotional and psychological forms of harm. Montresor’s thirst for violent revenge against Fortunato does not just arise from nowhere. The story starts off with a statement offered by Montresor, where he reveals to the
Montresor’s apparent pride in his having gotten away with the murder of Fortunato and the subtle lies he implants into the story only adds to the cold-hearted man who is Montresor.
A wise man once said, “ Destroy what destroys you.” destroying what destroys you is a common theme of revenge. When it comes to revenge, The Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allan Poe is the story to go to. The whole story and plot itself revolve around one word. Revenge. The story is based on Montresor wanting revenge for the one who wronged him, Fortunato. Therefore, the theme of The Cask of Amontillado is revenge. The author Edgar Allen Poe uses different literary elements to create this theme. The literary elements Poe uses include: foreshadowing, suspense, and irony.
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
In “The Cask”, the perspective we are given on the story is limited; which allows for an open interpretation of what his true motives for revenge are. As Baraban states “Montresor elaborates a sophisticated philosophy of revenge: "I must not only punish, but punish with impunity” (48) presenting the reader with a vibrant view of what he intends to do. The question one begs is, for what reason? Most readers would finish this story and assert that mentally, Montresor is insane. As Baraban states, “Poe's intriguing silence about the nature of the insult that made Montresor murder Fortunato has given rise to explanations of Montresor's deed through insanity. Richard M. Fletcher, for example, maintains that Montresor's actions are irrational and that therefore he is mad.” (50) Montresor states at the opening of the story, “you,who so well know the nature of my soul”( are words likely said on his death bed to his confessor; being that he committed this deed fifty years prior, it would make sense that he is finally coming clean. Moreover, since he is commenting on the nature of his soul, it is plausible to assume that Montresor has been deemed crazy
In the book Clash of Kings, George R.R. Martin said, “I will hurt you for this. I don’t know how yet, but give me time. A day will come when you think yourself safe and happy and suddenly your joy will turn to ashes in your mouth, and you’ll know the debt is paid.” Revenge is a dangerous act and can lead to death and injury. Edgar Allan Poe wrote an eerie and sinister short story called “The Cask of Amontillado.” This story is told by a narrator named Montresor. He was insulted many times by a man named Fortunato. Montresor goes to great lengths to get revenge against his enemy. Montresor lures him into the Montresor family catacombs, keeps him drunk, and ends his life with chains and a trowel. Through his use of carefully constructed
People are constantly being commanded by the temptation of revenge and demolished by the aftermath of taking it. “I forced the last stone into place; I plastered it up. – For more than a half century no one has disturbed them” (Poe 8). In the story “The Cask of Amontillado”, Montresor is so hopelessly controlled by his desire for revenge, that he brutally murders his