In Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado,” irony is applied throughout to help foreshadow future and give more of an insight to the readers, all while adding some humor. Irony is divided into three main types: dramatic, situational, and verbal. Poe uses dramatic irony when he has Fortunato dress as a jester, “a tight-fitting parti-striped dress and his was surmounted by the conical cap and bells” (Poe). The get-up makes Fortunato looks foolish and foreshadows his actions of following Montresor into the catacombs to taste some wine. Montresor even compliments the outfit and says “My dear Fortunato, you are luckily met” (Poe), but it was not Fortunato who was in luck, but Montresor who would gain profit of their meeting. Situational is when one thing is expected, but another happens. Starting with the title, “The Cask of Amontillado,” cask are barrels that are used as wine storage, but also is derived from the same word as casket. While Fortunato seeks a cask of …show more content…
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” (Poe). The reader is aware of Montresor’s murderous plans, while Fortunato has yet to have a clue as he is invited in the catacombs for some wine. This is one other time that Montresor uses reverses psychology to get what he wants. He knows that it will only make Fortunato want to keep on going. Montresor does not want a little cough to be responsible for Fortunato’s death as he wants to take full credit. Fortunato even says, “Enough… the cough is a mere nothing; it will not kill me. I shall not die of a cough,” only to have Montresor reply “True – true,” (Poe). Montresor may seem compassionate and supportive, but it could be indicating that he is agreeing that the cough indeed will not be Fortunato’s
When Montresor tricks Fortunato into coming into the vaults with him it gets the reader on the edge of their seat wondering how Montresor will get his revenge. Poe leaves readers wondering what will happen until the climax comes and Montresor traps Fortunato in the wall of the vault for all eternity.
“He had a weak point… He prided himself on his connoisseurship in wine…” (Poe, 360). Montresor use of verbal irony demonstrates that the murder is premeditated. “... the cough… it will not kill me…” states Fortunato who receives “True-true…” as a response from Montresor (Poe, 362).
Montresor states, “I continued , as was my in to smile in his face and he did not perceive that my smile now was at the thought of his immolation” (Poe 1). Montresor devises an intricate and well thought out plan to murder someone he considers a friend, he highlights the evil of humanity when the thought of killing Fortunato brings a smile to his face.
Montresor tortures Fortunato, both physiologically and physically. Montresor clearly gives Fortunato “multiple chances to escape his fate” (Delany 34), as he gives Fortunato obvious clues to his true intensions. These include leading Fortunato into a place for the dead, telling Fortunato not to go due to his severe cough that made it “impossible to reply” (Poe 5) at times, reminding Fortunato of his family arms, mentioning Luchesi, and showing Fortunato a trowel. Montresor seems to receive morbid joy out of the fact that Fortunato is so intoxicated that, just like the foot on Montresor’s coat of arms, he is unintentionally “stepping into his own destruction” (Cervo
“The Cask of Amontillado” is a marvelous story written by an incredible man, Edgar Allen Poe. It has many hidden fine points in addition to being a humorous read. “Likewise, many of Poe’s gothic tales seem to involve supernatural happenings; but insinuated into them, like clues in a detective story, are details which begin to construct dramatic frames around the narrative ‘voice’ of the work” (Roberts and Zweig pg. 531). “The Cask of Amontillado” has many symbolic and ironic details, it also has several instances of foreshadowing; this is what makes the story truly fascinating.
I shall not die of a cough. ”(4) Montresor pretended to care about Fortunato’s health, insisting they go back. The narrator states, “ I placed my
One might conclude that Montresor would grow to feel sick due to the murder he just committed. However, Montresor feels sick due to the atmosphere outside the catacombs. These are great examples of situational
Poe carries verbal irony throughout the rest of the story, as well; Montresor refers to Fortunato as “my friend” in many instances, however, the reader knows
To begin with it is evident Montresor is showing a generous amount of kindness. Leading up to the trap Montresor ironically tries to act as if he cares about Fortunato’s safety and wellbeing. Montresor expressing that he does not want Fortunato to get sick. Fortunato begs Montresor for them to go down to the vaults to taste the amontillado but Montresor explains that he does not want Fortunato to become ill because it is so cold down there. Poe writes “My friend, no.
In the short story by Edgar Allen Poe, there are countless examples of irony to convey Montresor’s unlawful act, while applying an additional layer of irony to sabotage his revenge. An example of situational irony Poe uses in the story is simply the name Fortunato. Fortunato is an Italian name that means good fortune or luck. This is an example of situational irony because his name means the complete opposite of what he actually was.
He states that Fortunato is a respected man, and that he will be greatly missed, and that he is happy as he once had been. He insists on turning around, and Fortunato refuses. Fortunato says that a cold shall not kill him, and he insists on moving forward. Montresor, I believe, enjoys the irony and agrees that a cold shall not kill him, because he knows that he will be the cause of Fortunato’s death. Fortunato’s lack of knowledge allows his to easily fall for Montresor’s 3rd step in his
Montresor has wrath toward Fortunato for insulting and treating him less. Fortunato was tricked into thinking a different result would happen than his death. Montressor tried to make his own justice of the situation ‘’ At length, i will be avenged. ‘’ pg 83 Poe showing he's going to get back at Fortunato for what he did. “He did not perceive that my smile was at his demise’’
“The Use of Irony in "The Cask of Amontillado" Edgar Allan Poe is a phenomenal writer and makes many points in his writings. There are three different ways in Poe 's writing of "The Cask of Amontillado" that irony is used: verbal, situational and dramatic. Verbal irony can be seen when Montresor first sees Fortunato at the carnival. Situational irony is also used and can be seen between the meaning of Fortunato 's name and his destiny, as well as Montresor 's response to his own. The last way irony is used is dramatic irony, this can be seen by any reader, this occurs when Montresor tells Fortunato he is also a mason.
Montresor told Fortunato that he is a “rich, respected, admired, beloved” (86) man. He does not actually think that. When he says he “must not only punish” (83) Fortunato, but he must “punish [him] with impunity” (83), which he does. The first step in Montresor's plan is to get Fortunato to go in the catacombs. He says to Fortunato, “Come, we will go back, your health is precious” (86).
Montresor then starts to easily manipulate Fortunato. Montresor uses Fortunato’s vanity against him to get what he wants. Fortunato thinks that Montresor has nothing against him and just wants him to taste wine. Fortunato goes with Montresor, and in doing this Fortunato becomes complicit in his own demise by insisting on sampling the amontillado. This allows Montresor to take control and lure Fortunato to the vaults, where Montresor becomes murderous.