Irony In The Cask Of Amontillado And Young Goodman Brown

Edgar Allan Poe’s short story, The Cask of Amontillado, details a carefully plotted murder as revenge for an unspecified insult. The murderer, Montresor, carefully lures a wine connoisseur into his family’s catacomb and walls him within a crevice where he claims to have stored an expensive wine. The plot for this scheme appears to be overly meticulous and complicated, especially as one intended to kill for vengeance. In the introductory paragraph, Montresor explains the basis for his specific method: “[A wrong is] unredressed when the avenger fails to make himself felt as such to him who has done the wrong.” It is ambiguous what insult or injury generated Montresor’s desire to kill, but it is apparent that each detail in his plan is intended

Montresor, from “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe, is manipulative, yet shows his weaknesses. Montresor manipulates Fortunato by insisting that if Fortunato is too busy that he will go with Luchresi and Fortunato repeats “Luchresi cannot tell Amontillado from Sherry” making it clear that Fortunato has been manipulated (Poe 292). As Montresor and Fortunato walk into the catacombs Montresor also keeps repeating “the Amontillado” when Fortunato might seem like he is about to back out (294). Even though Montresor killed Fortunato he tells the reader “My heart grew sick”, therefore letting the reader know that he is weak (295). Montresor was an evil man but his action will always come back to haunt him.

“Young Goodman Brown.” : An Annotated Bibliography “Young Goodman Brown” is a story about a man who challenges his faith in himself and in the community in which he resides. Gregory, Leslie. " The Text of Nathaniel Hawthorne 's "Young Goodman Brown". " American Literature Research and Analysis.

Situational irony is when actions in a story have the opposite effect of what was intended. Many great novels and short stories use situational irony to set the tone or theme of the plot. There are many similarities and differences between “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe and “The Gift of the Magi” by O. Henry in the use of irony. For example, in “The Cask of Amontillado”, situational, verbal, and dramatic irony are demonstrated to show how Montresor gets revenge on Fortunato. However, only situational irony is used in “The Gift of the Magi”.

Sadie Richards Professor Leivers LIT 1000 22 March 2018 Revenge Stories Revenge-themed stories are popular among some artist in literature. These artists are able to provide their readers with an exciting suspenseful storyline that will most likely keep them engaged. Edgar Allen Poe and Guy de Maupassant are two of the most influential writers of the 19th century who seem to have perfected the art of writing revenge stories. Poe was an American writer, poet, and literary critic known for his short stories and poetry.

In Hawthorne's story "Young Goodman Brown" it can be described as a moral allegory that illustrates the puritan doctrine of inherent depravity as the Brown. He tests his faith by entering the forest primeval by joining the man "of grave and decent attire" for an evening in the wilderness. It is apparent the symbols are of a religious nature. Hawthorne wrote in the time period known as the Romantic Period. Hawthorne's rejection of the Puritan belief system is the primary message of this story.

In the two short stories, “Young Goodman Brown,” by Nathaniel Hawthorne and “The Prodigal Son,” by St. Luke there is a parallel struggle of faith. Nathaniel Hawthorne’s short story, “Young Goodman Brown” is a very dark tale of mystery and deceit that surrounds a young man’s test of true faith in his battle against the evil one. In the parable of “The Prodigal Son,” Christ gives the reader a picture of God’s unfailing love toward His children and His ever constant surrounding presence. Faith is tested in each of these stories and the choice becomes to either succumb to this evil world, turn to God, or perhaps something else altogether. Although each story differs in climactic endings, both protagonists in each story reflect the struggle of one’s very soul by their reluctance to fully submit to God.

Situational irony, dramatic irony, and verbal irony are used in stories like “The Cask Of Amontillado”, and “The Story of an Hour” to express emotion, make a story more interesting, and give a true meaning to a story. Situational irony was used in the stories “The Story of an Hour”, “The Cask of Amontillado”, and “The Sniper” to add surprise and express the unexpected. In “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin, the wife, Mrs.Mallard, just received the news her husband died and she went into a room and stared out the window. When she did this the author said “ she was drinking in a very elixir of life through that open window” (Chopin 2). The situational irony in this is that we, as the readers, thought she would feel revitalized and ready to take on the world, but she dies on the next page.

Symbolism in The Cask of Amontillado The Cask of amontillado uses symbolism in many different ways throughout the story. The title of the story refers to a cask of amontillado (a barrel of wine) which just so happens to be the pursuit of the characters over the course of the story. The names of the two main characters (Fortunato and Montresor) reveal a lot about their personalities. Finally the trowel that Montresor reveals to Fortunato shines light onto the ending of the story.

The Struggle with Faith “Young Goodman Brown”, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, is a story that is meant to hold a larger truth about society. This story is comprised of many different symbols that work together to make that truth all the more clear to the reader. Hawthorne will accentuate the fact that faith is a choice, and each individual faces a struggle whether or not to accept faith as a part of who they are. He uses each character and event in the story as a representation of different influences that people are impacted by in the process of making a decision on faith.

My Mother and Father always tell me to not fear death because at some point it will come. They say I can not avoid it. I find it ironic that people fear the one thing in life that is going to happen no matter what. The fear of death is what pushes the two stories that will be compared in this essay. The irony in both deal with death and what people will do to keep from dying or to protect others from this inevitable occurrence.

The fictional short story “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe takes place in the catacombs of Montresor’s palace, during the carnival’s climax. The story begins when Montresor, the villain of the story, vows revenge on Fortunato. Throughout the story, the author doesn't tell us what the revenge will be, but his choice of words in the details creates a mood in the reader. The author’s detailed description in the short story creates different moods in the reader like anger, satisfaction, curiosity, and victory because the chosen words connect with the audience.