At the beginning of the story the narrator chooses the setting of Carnival. When one thinks of the carnival, the thought of joyful people, celebration and social interaction comes to mind. No one would have thought that that was the precise moment for Montresor to take revenge. The name of Fortunato itself is ironic, because the name of Fortunato means fortune in Italy. When Montresor reveals the audience that he “had fettered [Fortunato] to the granite”, the scene sends chills throughout the reader’s body (Poe 471).
Due to the use of first person in Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado” Montresor’s syntax and diction are the only mechanisms used to characterize Fortuno in the story. This subjects the perception of both Fortuno and Montresor to a great deal of bias. Although Montresor claims that Fortuno has committed “a thousand injuries” (127) there are never any specific instances of his treachery cited within the text.
Authors put a lot of effort into their work, but do things like foreshadowing hint at what is coming next in the story? Foreshadowing is a widely known literary device used in all sorts of literature, adding little things that may hint a future outcome. The Cask of Amontillado, by Edgar Allen Poe, and Scarlet Ibis, by James Hurst, are two of the many short stories that have a lot of foreshadowing, but are presented in different ways. In both of these stories, most of the foreshadowing shows off death, so the authors used a more grim style. The reason why these two short stories were chosen, though, was because of how the writers applied the technique into the plot.
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
Specifically, the “thousand injuries,” nobly taken in a stoic manner by Montresor were undoubtedly slights of personal level while the single “insult” which lead to the death of Fortunato was most likely an offence concerning the
Fortunato is a fool because he doesn’t get what Montresor is doing. He especially doesn’t take Montresor’s ‘cues’ to leave the crypt and go home. Fortunato’s stupid self wants to taste the wine no matter how dangerous it is. I guess Fortunato didn’t deserve what Montresor did to him; I mean Fortunato is not the smartest person. Montresor was capped with anger, and probably didn’t realize what he was doing to poor Fortunato until it was all over with.
Montresor is a grudge holder. In the beginning, Montresor, explains why he is angry with Fortunato, but didn’t come into detail of what he did to him. Evidently, Fortunato injured and insulted Montresor, who says that he has endured peacefully as Fortunato repeatedly offended him thousands of time. Fifty year ago, Fortunato use to deny what Montresor would say about, who he was or what he had done, as if it was untrue. Montresor would argue back and forth with him explaining that it was true.
Everybody will eventually want revenge on an old friend or just someone they know. Montressor, similar to many people in the world, wants revenge on one of his old friends, Fortunato. The story opens with, “The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as best I could; but when he ventured upon insult, I vowed revenge” (Poe 212). In this statement, Montressor tells the reader what the cause of his revenge against Fortunato is. “The Cask of Amontillado”, written by Edgar Allen Poe, tells the story of how Montressor brings Fortunato into the catacombs to bury him alive.
In the story Montresor states, “The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult I vowed revenge” (Poe p174). This leaves a lack of explanation for his revenge, making the readers question why he wants to kill Fortunato so badly. Another way the suspense is heightened is Montresor’s obvious mocking and manipulation of Fortunado. The close friendship between Montresor and Fortunato also adds suspense to the readers. Montresor’s sarcasm and wanting to do evil things, manipulates Fortunado, which leads to the creation of a creepy villain which increases the suspense.
As readers, we have no idea what Fortunato did to Montresor or his family name to drive him to such revenge. Poe hints at certain things, from revenge and the family crest to his arrogance of insisting that Fortunato penetrate the Montresor vault to acquire the esteemed Cask Amontillado. "The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult, I vowed revenge" (1126). The only clue is that Montresor systematically closes up Fortunato in a bone chamber perhaps with others who have wronged his family in the past. However, due to the reader's not knowing his true injustice, his murder seems unjustified and maybe even cruel to some
Poe cleverly uses foreshadowing to contribute to his menacing tragedy. Poe delivers countless hints that provide readers the ability to predict what will happen next. Montresor is disconcerted that Fortunato imposes so much pain on Montresor’s life, but justice has not been served. In the short story, Montresor conveys his coat of arms and his family motto, “‘the foot crushes a serpent rampant whose fangs are imbedded in the heel… Nemo me impune lacessit’”
The Cask of Amontillado Argumentative Essay Edgar Allen Poe is a famous writer who is well-known for his short stories. The Cask of Amontillado is one of Poe’s short stories which is about two men, Montresor and Fortunato. Fortunato did something to Montresor, the act is unknown, but it angered Montresor badly enough to make him feel the need to seek revenge. The story portrays Montresor’s long, drawn out plan to kill Fortunato. In the story, it is clear that he was set on killing Fortunato, because of his actions and emotions shown toward Fortunato.
After Fortunato states this Montresor says to him, “True--true,” which not only gives the reader an eerie feeling it also foreshadows Montresor’s idea on killing Fortunato. Once they reach their destination they make a toast, and Montresor makes a toast to his friends long life. After the toast Fortunato asks about Montresor's family crest motto which is, “No one attacks me with impunity” which again foreshadows Fortunato's death, but also makes the reader wonder if Fortunato’s death was revenge? Or was there no reason at all.
Edgar Allan Poe is one of the best at writing stories in a dark or creepy way. The mood of Poe’s short story, “The Cask of Amontillado”, is suspense. He creates this suspense by the use of the setting, foreshadowing, and Montresor’s character throughout the book. Poe makes the catacombs dark and creepy which makes the setting help provoke the suspense of the story. Poe also creates foreshadowing throughout the book which creates tension in the story.
The story “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe is a story that expresses revenge and betrayal. The story introduces darkness and pure evil through Montresor and through situations in the story. The main character Montresor is a devious and cruel person leading a fellow friend to his own death. The second character the author uses in the story is Fortunato. Fortunato has a huge ego and is obsessed with wine because of that Montresor uses that towards his advantage and leads Fortunato to his death.
