Examples Of Manipulation In The Cask Of Amontillado

In The Cask of Amontillado, by Edgar Allan Poe, one of the characters demonstrates their mastery in manipulation. The character Montresor demonstrates his skill through reverse psychology. During the time of Carnival, Montresor, a man who follows his family motto, wants revenge on an enemy of his, named Fortunato, for the many injuries he previously caused Montresor and his family. The former tells his servants that he, “should not return until the morning, and had given them explicit orders not to stir from the house. These orders were sufficient, I well knew, to ensure their immediate disappearance, one and all, as soon as my back was turned” (Poe 4). Montresor seeks revenge on Fortunato but requires this task to be secret. To keep it unknown,

In addition, the clever man reveals his strategy through flattery. When in the catacombs of Montresor's Palace, they are exposed to nitre. Montresor proceeds to tell him " ‘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’ " (Poe 5). Then Fortunato responds," ‘the cough is a mere nothing; it will not kill me. I shall not die of a cough’ " (Poe 5). Montresor makes it seem as though it is not his fault, because he warns Fortunato about the nitre. When complimenting Fortunato, he tells him how special he is because he knows that Fortunato’s ego is his weakness, so he will ignore his health, and continue with their task. Montresor displays his unique ability to fake compliments to receive what he wants. Montresor’s incredible talent appears when using manipulation; he can control what others think or act with his words. Manipulation is a difficult skill to master, but when mastered, it can be very