“The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe is a story about a betrayal and revenge, which depicts how Montresor uses weakness as a tool to successfully lure Fortunato into his trap. Fortunato himself plays a vital role in being murdered by Montresor. There are lots of traces in the story which point out Fortunato’s weaknesses and his foolishness. When Montresor suggests Fortunato to return home, Fortunato exclaims, “The cough is mere nothing; it will not kill me” (Poe) which suggest that, although receiving enough opportunities, Fortunato neglects the fortune he was being offered. Fortunato’s weaknesses resulting in his own death include his love for wine, his immense pride and his trusting nature.
Fortunato’s love for wine can be easily noticed in the story, and Montresor has used this to his full advantage. Montresor claims, “Although in other regards he was a man to be respected and even feared. He prided himself
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One of the weaknesses in Fortunato is that he trusts other people too much and lacks good judgment. Trusting people can be a weakness when there are untrustworthy people like Montresor around. Montresor states, “It must be understood that neither by word nor deed had I given Fortunato cause to doubt my good will” (Poe). Fortunato is portrayed as having poor judgment in making decisions. In order for the murder of Fortunato to succeed, Fortunato himself has a huge role. For the sake of wine, Fortunato ignores his health, and even though he is coughing so hard, he blames the Nitre. Fortunato says, “Let us go on. But first, another draught of the Medoc” (Poe). Although he was already drunk from the start, he doesn’t stop drinking, which helps Montresor manipulate and control him easily. Fortunato cannot see that Montresor is plotting a death trap and that Montresor is mad because of the insult. Fortunato shows his poor judgment when he happily goes into the catacombs with