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The Cask Of Amontillado By Edgar Allen Poe

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Edgar Allen Poe was one of the most famed authors of death, decay, and depression in the 18th century. Poe started his writing career during the Romantic literature period, a period focused on nature, emotions, and a fascination with the supernatural elements. As writers started to write in this new genre, works started becoming dark, with an eerie feeling and a tone of death. Out of the Romantic era came the sub-classification of the Gothic genre. Poe started to embrace this new genre and his writings started to become more and more mysterious. In The Cask of Amontillado, the Gothic genre is easily depicted through the eyes of the main character, Montresor. The Cask of Amontillado is a perfect example of a short story in the Gothic genre …show more content…

The Raven, The Tell-Tale, and especially The Cask of Amontillado exist as proof of Poe 's exemplary grasp on this new genre. In the short story The Cask of Amontillado, the Gothic genre is first expressed by the old, decaying, "haunted" manor which the main character Montresor lives; the constant portrayal of death and the theme of being buried alive help set the Gothic genre in all its supernatural glory. The setting is very expressive of revenge and how it can overpower a person. The tale relates to two acquaintances, once to be depicted as friends, but through a prided relationship of ingenuine respect. Montresor had bleak motifs to discontinue the friendship to end on a one-up, as they dealt with competitive pride. Montresor wants revenge to the point of death for his "friend" and is on the brink of insanity, "I must not only punish but punish with impunity". He will do anything to make sure that Fortunado pays for what has been done to him, even if death is the solution.
Another look into the Gothic genre is when we find out that Montresor is enjoying his grotesque imaginings, "I continued to smile in his face, and he did not understand that I was not smiling at the thought of what I had planned for him, at the thought of my revenge". He wants his revenge on Fortunato and is willing to go as far as death. Montresor’s plan was well thought-out as he carried his inconspicuous trowel under his coat. He lured Fortunato in

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