The Cask Of Amontillado Analysis

In the Story "A & P" by John Updike and "The Cask of Amontillado" by Edgar Allen Poe show some similarities as well as some differences. Specifically it will identify a character in each story that analyze how different and how similar they are in both stories. The two main characters in the stories both seem to fit in quite well in their setting, and yet they both are have their own very different beliefs and morals. The entire meaning and core of these stories revolves around these two characters and their nonconformity, without them, the stories simply could not exist.

A story that aims to frighten will attempt to develop an ambience that evokes uncertainty. It must create scenes that exhibit verisimilitude; it is a necessity to contain details that add to realism. The Cask of Amontillado is a fictional horror that presents the act of premeditated murder, biased revenge, and injustice. All of which are elevated by the imagery presented within the setting. The setting of The Cask of Amontillado plays a crucial role in the narrative; it is not merely a backdrop setting, but it is integral.

Edgar Allan Poe’s short story “The Cask of Amontillado” is told through the eyes of a wine enthusiast, called Montresor. The author chooses to write the story through Montresor’s point of view, because it makes the reader really think, and shows them how a murderer thinks. It also adds suspense, leading up to the immolation of Fortunato. In the story Montresor talks about how he is in a toxic friendship, with a man named Fortunato. Montresor apparently suffered many injuries due to Fortunato, but when Fortunato insults him, Montresor can not tolerate it any more. He swears revenge; however, he takes it to the next level. Throughout the story, information is exposed about Montresor's personality. He paints Fortunato out to be a terrible

The poem “The Cask of Amontillado”, is set during the carnival season in Italy. Montresor has been insulted thousands of time by Fortunato. The poem starts off with the quote, “THE thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult I vowed revenge. (“The Cask of Amontillado”, by Edgar Allan Poe). This proves that Montresor is at his breaking point. Montresor vows for revenge and starts planning on how he will seek his revenge. Montresor knows Fortunato’s weakness is exotic wine. Montresor was also very interested in exotic wine so he knew how to play on Fortunato weakness. Montresor says this in the quote “He had a weak point -- this Fortunato -- although in other regards he was a man to be respected and even feared. He prided himself on his connoisseurship in wine.” (“The Cask of Amontillado”, by Edgar Allan Poe). Montresor has had enough he is at his breaking point. One could assume the theme the author is trying to portray is that everyone has a breaking point.

The Cask of Amontillado is the story of and envious man by the name of Montresor who has devised a plan to kill one of his long term friends Fortunato. Montresor devised this plan in the beginning of the story after Fortunato had pulled one joke to many while at a party surrounded by many of their close friends. Montresor while at the party remained calm however while still laughing and cheering with Fortunato he started to develop his plot to get his revenge on Fortunato. In the story Montresor while plotting his crime says, “I had to keep my true feelings to myself for not only must I punish but punish with impunity” (Poe). While Montresor plans the murder of Fortunato, Fortunato is simply enjoying life and his wealth. During carnival Montresor sees a drunk Fortunato and ceases his opportunity. A drunk Fortunato walks over to Montresor and gives him a friendly greeting. Montresor sees this as an opportunity to take Fortunato away from the festivities by using both his weakness for wine and his pride against him. Montresor does this by tricking Fortunato into thinking that he had recently brought a cask of Amontillado and he needed Luchesi to distinguish if it was actually Amontillado. Fortunato, who feels that he is the best wine tester in all of Italy quickly replies, “Luchesi cannot tell Amontillado from Sherry” (Poe) . Montresor knowing the pride and arrogance of Fortunato then says, “"And yet some fools will have it that his taste is a match for your own." (Poe) . That

It’s merely a costume that he chooses to wear during “the supreme madness of the carnival season.” (Poe 101) The costume shows that the joke was essentially played on Fortunado in exacting Montressor’s revenge. “Amontillado! You have been imposed upon.” (Poe 102) The Amontillado or the wine mentioned in the title and throughout the story is a symbol for Fortunado’s death. “The Amontillado!” (Poe 104) The Amontillado never existed and was the means by which Montressor lured Fortunado to his less fortunate demise. The “Cask” mentioned in the title is a euphemism for the final resting place or coffin for Fortunado. Montressor even jokes with Fortunado about being a member of the freemasons by “producing from beneath the folds of my roquelaire a trowel.” (Poe 103) Montressor is using the word mason to describe a craftsman who uses brick and mortar and is a precursor to the methods by which he would kill Fortunado. Ultimately, irony is a useful tool used by Poe to help convey Montressor’s intentions of revenge.

The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult I vowed revenge. You, who so well know the nature of my soul, will not suppose, however, that I gave utterance to a threat. At length I would be avenged; this was a point definitively settled — but the very definitiveness with which it was resolved precluded the idea of risk. I must not only punish but punish with impunity. 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.

When Montresor mentioned to him that he received the pipe of what passed to be for the Amontillado (179), he was completely astonished and nothing mattered more to him than holding and taking a look at it to make sure that it was the authentic cask of the Amontillado. The fact that this man was determined on actually taking a look at the cask, made him forget about what was really going on in his surroundings, nothing mattered more than that, not even his current health condition. This man was vulnerable. Poe states, “ ‘My friend, no. It is not the engagement, but the severe cold with which I perceive you are afflicted. The vaults are insufferably damp. They are encrusted with nitre.’ ‘Let us go, nevertheless. The cold is merely nothing. Amontillado! You have been imposed upon. And as for Luchresi, he cannot distinguish Sherry from Amontillado.’” (180). Fortunato becomes completely careless about himself, the only thing he truly cares about is taking a look at the Amontillado and he assures Montresor that only he could distinguish it, applying that he must take him and he must be the one who takes a look at it. He becomes completely obsessed and closed mined with the cask of Amontillado, nothing mattered, not even his own life. This cask becomes the casket for Fortunato’s hopes, dreams, and

In The Cask of Amontillado Montresor lived for fifty years after killing Fortunato and he narrates the events of the story coldly and that leads some to wonder whether or not Montresor has changed and if he has changed how did he change. Over the fifty years between the events of The Cask Of Amontillado and the time when Montresor narrates the story, time changed Montresor into a guilty and shamed man that may have PTSD.

Poe and “The Cask of Amontillado” were interlocked in many ways, but Poe wanting comeuppance was his largest connection. Montresor wants to get back at Fortunato, but nobody knows exactly why. In the story, Fortunato accidentally gives hints talking about a girl when he mentions “Will not they be awaiting us at the palazzoㅡthe Lady Fortunato at the rest? Let us be gone” (239). Fortunato was intoxicated, he did not even know that he was going to be murdered. He did not know what he was really saying, and him unintentionally commenting about a lady, was not the most intelligent thing to state. Poe relates to the story because his lady was taken away in his own life. The author of “Edgar Allan Poe Biography” under “Early Life” states “He

Vengeance and murder infects the minds of Montresor and Fortunato upon an exchange of insult in Edgar Allan Poe’s "The Cask of Amontillado”. This is the story of pure revenge after Forturano disrespects Montresor. The story follows the characters meeting up at a carnival and eventually the disguised Montresor lures Fortunato into the catacombs of his home by convincing him that he acquired something that could pass for Amontillado, a light Spanish sherry. Fortunato grows eager to taste this wine and to determine for Montresor whether or not it is truly Amontillado. He leads him back to the catacombs of his home and carries out his plot to bury him alive. Edgar Allan Poe writes from a mysterious first person perspective, uses colorful symbolism and situational irony to present the man's inner self, in turn revealing that revenge is fundamentally infeasible.

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.

Edgar Allan Poe’s The Cask of Amontillado is thought to be one of his most popular vengeful short novels. The two main characters, Montresor and Fortunato are re-acquainted friends who meet each other at The Carnival. Montresor has intentionally planned to lure Fortunato to his own death by deceiving him to believe that Fortunato is coming to Montresor's family catacombs to taste a fine wine “Amontillado”. After Montresor leads Fortunato into the crypts, Montresor eventually chains Fortunato up in a secluded section and mortars him behind a brick wall while he is still alive. The story ends with Montresor throwing a flaming torch into the small opening while he continues to put the last brick in place, essentially burning Fortunato alive. Edgar Allan Poe creates conflict between characters Montresor and Fortunato which primarily creates the major theme of revenge in this story. Edgar Allan Poe depicts setting in this novel by portraying death by illustrating human bones, within a cold and damp crypt to contribute to the eerie theme of revenge. Montresor's characterization is expressed through the betrayal of his friend, which adds another element to the theme of revenge in this story. In Edgar Allan Poe’s The Cask of Amontillado, Edgar Allan Poe utilizes conflict, setting, and characterization to create a theme of revenge.

The major theme in "A Cask of Amontillado" is the darkness that lies behind the friendly facade of some men. This idea is

Many would not look to a title of a piece of literature for symbolism. In “The Cask of Amontillado,” Poe uses the key word cask as a huge symbol. The word cask refers to, “a sturdy cylindrical container for storing liquids,” such as Amontillado, a fine wine, in this case (Lorcher). Montresor introduces the topic of the wine to his former friend Fortunato by saying, “‘My dear Fortunato, you are luckily met. How remarkably well you are looking to-day. But I have received a pipe of what passes for Amontillado, and I have my doubts’” (Poe). Fortunato is extremely intoxicated from carnival festivities prior to his conversation with Montresor, so it is probable that his decision to go into the catacombs with Montresor is not for the benefit of anyone but himself. He sees this journey with Montresor as a way to acquire one of two possible outcomes—free wine or a chance to further humiliate Montresor, especially after Montresor suggests that Fortunato is not capable of distinguishing the Amontillado and mentions the name of a rival, Luchresi (Lorcher). The symbolism in the key word of cask is that it has the same root as the word casket. Poe’s use of symbolism in this regard is often overlooked and written off as mere coincidence, yet that is far from the truth. Fortunato’s love of wine, and the ignorant and easily influenced state the wine puts him in, leads him to make some of his most destructive decisions to not only others, but also to himself. The Amontillado is a symbol of Fortunato’s downfall, or in other words, the love he has for the cask