Why Montresor killed Fortunato

Conflict: For Montresor to revenge himself for Fortunato’s insult, he has to get away with it – if Fortunato can revenge him back,

Poe uses first person narration to allow readers to see Montresor’s complex thought process and manipulating nature. There are many instances in the story that show the Montresor had carefully planned the murder of Fortunato. Starting from the very beginning, Montresor told the reader that “[He] continued… to smile in [Fortunato’s] face, and [Fortunato] did not perceive that my smile was at the thought of his immolation” (Poe 59). This dark action is the first sign that not only is the murder long and thought out, Montresor is manipulating Fortunato into believing that they are friends. Once he had developed this trusting relationship, it was not difficult to lewer Fortunato into the catacombs. In addition, Montresor intentionally selected a time when Fortunato would be intoxicated and unable to make sound

“There isn’t much to say, one day Mr. Fortunato decided to give us the day off for the Mardi Gras festival, we found it very strange since he never gave us days off but we ignored it and enjoyed the festival. After that I never saw Mr. Fortunato again.” “Do you know if Mr. Fortunato had any enemies?” I asked. “Not that I know of…” she stopped and hesitated. “Go on” I encouraged her, “Mr. Fortunato hated Luchesi but I never heard of Luchesi having problems with Mr. Fortunato?” she paused then continued. “Maybe Montresor can help you out with that, her used to work for Mr. Fortunato as well.” “Okay, well thank you so much… uh?” “Irma” she said with half a smile “well thank so much Irma, I will try not to bother you no more.” I walked her over to the door and watched her disappear into village.

Fredrich Schiller once said, " Revenge is barren of itself, it is the dreadful food it feeds on; its delight is murder, and it's end is despair." This relates to Edgar Allen Poe's "The Cask of Amontillado" because Montressor seeks revenge on a man named Fortunato for his wrongful actions committed against him. Fortunato insulted Montressor in the past, so Montressor sets up a plan to extinguish Fortunato's flame once and for all. In the midst of a town gathering, Montressor informs Fortuanto of a fine cask of wine he has acquired. Fortunato being a fine wine tester insists he must test this wine which Montressor informs him is located deep in the pillazo beneath his family mansion. Montressor leads Fortunato deep into the pillazo, where he then chains him to a wall, seals up the entrance with his trowel, and leaves Fortunato to never be heard from again. Because of Fortunato's foolishness and arrogance, he is made an easy target for Montressor.

However, Montresor has a characteristic that, not shown prominently, but given through little hints until the end. That secret characteristic is guilt, guilt for wanting to kill Fortunato. Some of those hints show at the carnival, down in Montresor’s catacombs, and even as Montresor is building in the wall to keep Fortunato in to die. At the carnival, Montresor calls Fortunato his ‘friend’. “It was about dusk, one evening during the supreme madness of the carnival season, that I encountered my friend.” (Poe). In addition, Montresor is talking about Fortunato, with the term friend being used. Another is, “I was so pleased to see [Fortunato]...” (Poe). In this part of the story, Montresor even says himself that he was happy to see his friend, Fortunato. He shows signs of actually liking Fortunato, but for strongly believing in his family motto and arms of revenge, he feels the need to get revenge on Fortunato for what he did to Montresor. Montresor greets Fortunato kindly and with warmth, “[m]y dear Fortunato, you are luckily met. How remarkably well you are looking to-day!” (Poe). Montresor

Together we raised an outstanding child. I had also remained friends with Fortunato. We would dine together at each others’ homes and, of course, Léonie would also dine with us. I was truly happy, but all of those happy memories I had created with her and my son, were later destroyed. One evening I went over to Fortunato’s home for a share of drinks, for I had found a rare wine. A maid had welcome me in the mansion. While, I was strolling through the halls in search of him, I saw something I should have not seen. My wife in the arms of my most trusted friend. I froze where I stood… I overheard what was being spoken by the two in the other room. “When will I have time to spend with my son?” He asked. The amount of anger that filled me began to flood. I wanted Fortunato to suffer by my hands. I left his home as if I had not been there from the

that he will have someone else taste the Amontillado, knowing that by doing this Fortunato will feel compelled to taste the wine himself. “As you are engaged, I am on my way to Luchresi. If anyone has a critical turn I is he. He will tell me…” In addition to being manipulative and vengeful, Montressor also displays condescending traits. Montressor addresses Fortunato in the catacombs by saying, “...your health is precious. You are rich, respected, admired, beloved; you are happy as once I was. You are a man to be missed.”

Montresor killed Fortunato because he supposedly hurt and insulted Montresor. Even if Fortunato did insult him, Montresor should not have killed him. Some people think he should not be punished, but Montresor planned the murder, their was no reason for him to kill Fortunato, and he is sane.

In the text “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allen Poe Montresor’s commitment to getting revenge on Fortunato is like a bounty hunter not giving up to apprehend a fugitive. In the text, Montresor main mission is to get rid of Fortunato a wine taster like himself who did “a thousand wrongs” (Poe, 67). Or did something so bad that it equals a thousand wrongs .The two characters set off into Montresor’s vaults, to taste the Amontillado that Montresor so called “bought”. The real question is what did Fortunato do to have this cruel revenge meet upon him. What makes Montresor able to wreak revenge upon Fortunato is his commitment, his preparation, and his persuasive skills.

Montresor sat alone feeling isolated and lonely in his empty house, and just thought about his life. He lost the love of his life, his career, success, and his wealth. Sitting on the floor in his dark, gloomy, disheveled living room, he then decided to make a change. He pounced up, ran to the kitchen and got rid of all the alcohol in his home and he declared he would never drink another day in his life! Alcohol was the one thing that ruined everything for him and he hated it and himself for giving it that power. Montresor began to withdraw from his friendship with Fortunato slightly because of his use of alcohol. It had been a while since they hung out and Fortunato wanted to introduce Montresor to the new girl he’d fallen in love with. Montresor heard a knock on his door, when he opened it he was shocked at what he had

Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado” is a detailed story of having too much wealth and power can go to one’s head and make them feel as if they can take anyone’s life away if insulted. During the time period that Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado” takes place in, has family as well as personal pride important above all else, so important that Montresor when disrespected lead him to commit a vengeful murder of his dear friend Fortunato.

Montresor, the narrator of the story, has decided to exact revenge on his so called friend

She starts to walk on the path of getting to work. Barely awake and aware of her surroundings. As she continues to head to work she starts immediately regretting her life and choices. She hears the sounds of the street and the workers working. She sees the people that were at her wedding. They were exhausted and lacked tons of enthusiasm. They were all drained and out of spirit. She even noticed little Stanislovas who was ill from his act of overeating sausages and sarsaparilla. He is standing at his lard machine, rocking unsteadily, and slightly closing his

     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.

As the story progresses, Montresor devises a careful plan to lure Fortunato to his death trap, but he is careful enough not to place himself at risk. He approaches him at a carnival, and plays on his victim’s weakness for wine by offering to show him a brand of wine akin to the light Spanish sherry, Amontillado (8). The narrator presents an interesting description of his encounter with Fortunato at the carnival; at first expressing dislike for his friend’s behavior by claiming that he approached him with too much warmth since he was drunk, but then he adds that he was extremely delighted to see Fortunato at that particular moment. This illustrates the depth of Montresor’s desire to exert revenge on his friend, since the sole reason of his pleasure at seeing Fortunato is that he knew his plans had taken off, and he anticipated the satisfaction of the act of brutal revenge.