In Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado,” Montresor has an evil plan to get revenge on his “friend,” Fortunato. Montresor's plan involves drinking the wine, Amontillado. Fortunato loves wine, and he will do anything for it, or with it. Wine plays a huge role in Montresor's plan. Montresor gets Fortunato to really think that they are “friends.” 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 is doing reverse psychology. …show more content…
I shall not die from a cough” (86). He insisted to go to the catacombs. Fortunato does know he will not die from a cough, but he does not know he will die from something bigger that night. On the way to the catacombs, Montresor asks Fortunato what the motto is. Fortunato says that it is, “Nemo me impune lacessit” (86). This means “no one attacks me with impunity.” What it is saying is that no one will attack me without getting revenge. Montresor is about to give Fortunato revenge. When they get in the catacombs Fortunato is so excited that he sees the wine. “The wine sparkled in his eyes and the bells jingled” (86). All he could think about was the amazing Amontillado. Montresor traps Fortunato and feels guilty. Fortunato started saying how he has a family and places to go back
He exploits this and deceives the man to go down into the caverns that housed the supposed Amontillado. Furthermore, Montresor never tells the reader what Fortunato actually did. He only states, “The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as best I could, but when ventured upon insult I vowed revenge” (Poe, 360). Insults do not call for homicide.
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.
“I know what I must do. I shall enter those catacombs and prove none of this is real and Fortunato is in fact dead. “ Later that day Montresor went to the catacombs once more after being there a year ago from
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
He wants to seek justice for how Fortunato has wronged him. He maintains this goal as he wants to “not only punish but punish with impunity” (Poe, 1). From Montresor’s point of view, he must enforce revenge on Fortunato, as it is what he believes is right. Ensuring that he wants to “punish with impunity” indicates his relentless pursuit of vengeance and how he must ensure that he faces no consequences for his actions. This way, Montresor reveals his underlying arrogance and belief in his superiority.
When he vowed revenge, he tells the reader, “You, who so well know the nature of my soul, will not suppose, however, that gave utterance to a threat”. There are many ways to revenge on Fortunato but his word expresses that his desire to give him not only mental but also physical distress. From this world,
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.
Montressor reveals that he never did anything to cause Fortunato doubt of his good-will. He smiled in Fortunato's face because he was thinking of Fortunato's immolation or fate. "I must not only punish, but punish with impunity." (Montressor; Cask of Amontillado) Montressor says that quote
He has plotted a revenge for him so that Fortunato could get what he deserved. Montresor planned for Fortunato to get drunk and then lure him to his home where he will kill him . After Fortunato is led back to Montresor’s house be deceiving him and took him to the catacombs of the Mansion where the supposed Amontillado wine is. Montresor was planning to trap Fortunato in the catacombs to kill him, this is an extremely horrible death. Dying of starvation or thirst would be a painful way to go especially in a dark catacomb surrounded by skeletons and the smell of rot and dampness.
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
In the story “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe the character Montresor killed a man by the name of Fortunato by chaining him up and walling him in. Montresor did and does not feel guilt for this crime. He did not feel guilt for this crime because he believed he was right for doing so. That reason is because Fortunato insulted him and because they were upper class it was more serious even though it never states in the story of what Fortunato said. Montresor only felt a little guilty and that was when he sealed the last brick down other than that he did not feel guilt especially if he kept it a secret for fifty years.
In “The Cask of Amontillado”, Edgar Allan Poe displays the theme of revenge and manipulation. The narrator Montresor pledges revenge on Fortunato for an insult that is never explained. He maintains an appearance of goodwill towards Fortunato and decides to make use of Fortunato's weakness for fine wines against him. During the carnival season, the narrator approaches Fortunato, telling him that he has come across something that could pass for Amontillado a rare and expensive wine. Fortunato being excited about the news insists on accompanying Montresor to the vaults to determine whether it is Amontillado or not.
Montresor’s family motto translates to: no one provokes me with impunity. Fortunato has insulted Montresor, which seals his fate in Montresor’s eyes. Once someone has insulted Montresor, that someone can expect punishment. The family motto confines Montresor’s mind into believing that Fortunato must be killed. Despite the lack of vindication for Fortunato, Montresor is bound to be affected negatively by the murder.
Characterization proves the theme that Fortunato's insults make an enemy of Montresor. Montresor becomes vindictive when Fortunato’s insults start turning towards his family. Montresor’s family motto is no one punishes him and gets away with it (Fields). This gives reason to believe that honor dictated that Montresor avenge the insults Fortunato laid at his feet. Montresor says, “THE thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as