The Irony In The Cask Of Amontillado

Edgar Allan Poe is one of the world’s greatest known writers from the era of romanticism and influenced by the Transcendental movement in which derived the sub-genre literature called dark romanticism. Although Poe had a strong dislike for Transcendentalism and deemed its followers as "Frogpondians", many would consider him by way of his dark pessimistic writings to be a dark romantic author. Although Poe’s literary style is considered Gothic, the literary characteristics in The Masque of the Red Death, The Cask of Amontillado, and The Pit and the Pendulum share three distinct characteristics by means of horror, allegory, and irony.

I cannot begin talking about “The Cask of Amontillado” without first mentioning its author, Mr. Edgar Allen Poe and his unique style of writing. Poe’s style of writing is described as “Dark Gothic.” Poe uses irony to create a comedic effect which only foreshadows the horror ahead; his short story writing still giving readers the full effect of the story; Poe felt a story should be read in one sitting, with each event occurring in order keeping with the storyline as he states in his essay “The Philosophy of Composition.” His use of imagery and symbolism putting pictures in our minds leaving us in suspense; the unreliable narrator, clearly in an effort to substantiate his sanity is definite verification of his insanity. Poe’s immense

In the short story The Cask of Amontillado there are multiple times when irony is used. The irony is a significant part of the story and it helps the author portray the theme of revenge. The irony also adds humor to what’s about to happen. The main character, Montresor who is the narrator has been insulted by Fortunato and he is planning on killing him by luring him down to the wine cellars. During the carnival season at night when Montresor first spots Fortunato he says “My dear Fortunato, you are luckily met,”(). Montressor made that comment how he is lucky to see Fortunato, which isn’t the case and it is the beginning of Montresor's revenge plan to kill Fortunato. This quote is an example of verbal irony in the story since, Montresor meant

“The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allen Poe is a story of revenge that we, as the reader, do not feel sympathetic. At the beginning of the story, we are told that Fernando is wearing “a tight-fitting parti-striped dress” (4) this leads to the reader feeling that he is not serious and results in a small amount of irony. As the story builds, we learn that Fernando has betrayed the speaker; “the thousand injuries of Fortunato” is how we are introduced to the revenge that is being plotted against him (1). Fortunato is a wine connoisseur and is very ignorant when Montresor is going to ask Luchesi to check his wine. He stubbornly replies, "Luchesi cannot tell Amontillado from Sherry" (14).

In the story "Cask of Amontillado" Fortunato and Montresor walked thru the vaults in search of Amontillado in what appeared to Fortunato as nothing more than a friendly encounter. Montresor states, "As you are engaged, I am on my way to Luchesi. If any one has a critical turn, it is he. He will tell me--" Fortunato states, "Luchesi cannot tell Amontillado from Sherry. Let us go"(237). As they continue their descent further into the vault, Montresor notices Fortunato excessively coughing and says, "Come, we will go back; your health is precious. You are rich, respected, admired, beloved; you are happy, as once I was. You are a man to be missed. For me it is no matter. We will go back; you will be ill, and I cannot be responsible"(238). Little to Fortunato's surprise, this 'friendliness' from Montresor was nothing more than an act in order for him to carry out his revenge from an earlier insult from Fortunato. In "The Cask of Amontillado", the author uses irony to expand on his theme of a man who seeks

Kimberley Kissoon ENGL 1302.004 Prof. Kaplan 04 May 2016 The Knife in Fortunato’s Back Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado” is a short story that is saturated with irony. This irony is not subtle which effectively gives the reader a sense of dread as the plot develops. The reader knows that something will happen, but not what it is exactly until it is too late.

think beyond what the text tells them. Edgar Allen Poe utilizes many types of irony to illustrate the Montresor’s sinister actions in his short story “The Cask of Amontillado”. By using irony and syntax, the author allows the reader to delve and understand the story on a much deeper level. On the surface, “The Cask of Amontillado” seems to be a very straightforward story of a murder, however, when a reader takes a closer look they understand that there is much more to what the reader intentionally understands. Poe’s use of irony in “The Cask of Amontillado” contributes to the story by guiding the reader to think about the story in a much more psychological and

There are numerous interesting stories we have read and characters we have come to know throughout our readings. I found all of them interesting, but I found Cathedral to be a very intriguing story. The personality that Carver gave the husband was interesting to me because other than his jealousy of Robert due to his relationship with his wife, he had no real reason as to why he did not like him. Jealousy can be a dangerous thing if we allow it to consume our lives and I felt that this is what the husband was doing. Robert was blind and the wife had worked for him and had kept in touch via recordings.

”One of us is to furnish a repast for the hounds. The other will sleep in this very excellent bed. On guard Rainsford.” Said the general neither of them went to the hounds for a repast but rather they both slept in a cozy bed.

The story, "The Cask of Amontillado" by Edgar Allen Poe, is a narration of revenge and murder crafted and committed in the most of secretive ways, that the victim, Fortunato, did not recognize the murder plan until at the very last point of last breath. The story, narrated by Montresor, gives an account of an oppressed individual, who had patiently and submissively subjected to oppression, until insults began, and he could no longer take any more. The narrator had been oppressed many times by the victim against whom he seeks revenge. In the very opening of the narration, the narrator claims to have been hurt by the victim numerous times when stating “THE thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could” (Poe, n.p.). However, while suffering quietly from all the injuries he had received from Fortunato, Montresor had crafted a plan for revenge, which he ensured the target victim would not detect. Indeed, Montresor continued to mask his evil plans against the victim through acting nicely towards him and also maintaining a smile that only him knew was informed by the “thought of revenge” (Poe, n.p.). Indeed, Montresor no doubt comes out as very crafty, and the secretively crafted plan of revenge against Fortunato he made can be lauded as being genius. Nevertheless, this discussion holds the argument that it is Fortunato’s skepticism, as opposed to Montresor’s definitive and genius plan, that materializes the revenge.

Without literary devices, stories would not be memorable, elaborate, and original. In the short story, “The Cask of Amontillado” Edgar Allan Poe uses multiple literary devices to expand and detail the story, and also support the theme of revenge, by reason of the goal of the main character is to kill his rival. But the two most prominent devices in the story are irony and symbolism. Poe’s use of irony and symbolism establishes a theme of revenge throughout the short story.

Edgar Allan Poe is known for his dark and imaginative plots in his writing. He has written many shorts stories and poems that follow this style. Many of his works are well known, but the one in which this paper is focused on The Cask of Amontillado. This paper will analyze Poe’s writing to be able to comprehend the theme, as well as discuss it, and the use of literary elements.

Several years ago there were two men who seemed to have pretty solid friendship with one another. The first one goes by the name of Montresor. Monntresor is an alchoholic and everyone only saw him as a nobody. He had a soft spot and secretly he was very gentle and kind. The second man is known as Fortunato. Fortunato is very wealthy as well as a big bully to the people not as fortunate as he is. He has learned to hide that part of him well with his apologetic personality. The two men ran into each other at the carnival that came into town and they instantly clicked with each other. Standing in line at the ticket booth Fortunato turned around in a quick motion and accidently hit Montresor in the nose while looking around making sure no one else was looking him as he pulled out a wad

The story begins with a conversation between two characters-Whitney and Rainsford. Whitney tells Rainsford that the island is known as the place of fear (of a terrible future). Rainsford speaks that hunting is the best sport in the world. Whitney changes Rainsford's verbal expression by saying that the hobby is only fun for the hunter. Rainsford disregards his explanation/statement of opinions as ridiculousness for he feels that animals have zero understanding that they are being hunted. Whitney points out that even if they can't understand puzzling things, they still experience fear .Rainsford, yet again, casts aside his verbal expression as ridiculousness. Rainsford tells Whitney that the warm weather has made him emotionally unstable. s

Over the history of humanity, individuals have always had a fascination for ascertaining information about the human body, and as a result have become more aware of its capabilities. Medical advances allow for a better understanding of the human body, and the many functions which keep it alive. The brain – an extremely vital organ for a human – makes decisions, consciously and subconsciously controls bodily functions, and enables even the possibility of this essay being written. The brain also has the capacity for perceiving things like pride, jealously, and the concept of revenge. All humans to a certain extent experience these, but since not all things are not created equal, the perception of these subjects in individuals is not either. Edgar Allan Poe, in writing “The Cask of Amontillado” addresses this theme. Poe, in this murder story, uses Montresor and irony as a medium to convey that that all humans have capacity for things such as excessive pride or sadism, but few will ever show it.