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. Due to the limited perspective of the first person it is first unclear whether Montresor is the protagonist or the antagonist of the story. However through Poe’s phrasing it becomes clear that Montresor is unjustified in his murder of Fortuno.
In The Cask of Amontillado, the narrator, Montresor, lures Fortunato into his wine vaults in order to murder him. The reason behind it is never clearly stated in the text. Montresor merely says, “A thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could; but when he ventured upon insult, I vowed revenge.” (Poe 1108) Montresor never reveals the exact nature of the insult, nor the multitude of injuries that he had supposedly borne. The audience cannot even be certain that the insult ever occurred. Perhaps the slight is only in Montresor 's mind. Fortunato seems blind to Montresor 's true intentions, meaning he is either completely oblivious and insensitive to those around him, or, what Montresor has deemed a horrible crime punishable by
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. Montressor, from the story “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allen Poe, is insane because he lies about wine to get Fortunato into the catacombs, he plays off of Fortunato’s ego, and he buries Fortunato alive.
In the short story, The Cask of Amontillado, by Edgar Allan Poe, we see a man who is dead set on revenge. Has anyone ever done something to you, and you thought to yourself, “you just wait, your time will come?” If we were being honest, the answer to that question would be yes. The opening line to the story suggests that the narrator has had dealings with Fortunato before, but had never been insulted. “The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult I vowed revenge” (as cited by Kirszner & Mandell, 2012, pg. 190). In other words, I have put up with a lot from this person but now that he has insulted me, I will make him regret it. The symbolisms within this story are numerous and uncanny, and can be seen throughout, the entire piece, by analyzing the elements of fiction contained within.
What is the mental state of a man who is going to kill people? How do people feel when they see the last moment of their friend? “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe is the story of a man who vowed revenge because of humiliation. When the night of the carnival, Montresor came up with a terrible plan. Fortunato whom he hates is a fool for wine. Amontillado is a kind of sherry. Montresor lured Fortunato to the vaults and made revenge with an exceptionally hideous way. In this story, Poe describes the mental state of Montresor and his character almost like a devil because of his cruelty during revenge. Montresor accomplishes the revenge because he has a strong violent vengefulness to Fortunato, is a very careful and intelligent person, and feels pleasure to kill people.
In the “Cask of Amontillado” Poe tells a story about a man, Montresor, getting revenge on the one who tarnished his family name, Fortunato. Poe starts off the story with a monologue from Montresor talking about how he will get revenge on Fortunato for insulting him Montresor said “at length I will be avenged” (83) showing Montresor plans to get his revenge no matter what. When Montresor tricks Fortunato into coming into the vaults with him it gets the reader on the edge of their seat wondering how Montresor will get his revenge. Poe leaves readers wondering what will happen until the climax comes and Montresor traps Fortunato in the wall of the vault for all eternity.
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.
“The Cask of Amontillado,” written by Edgar Allen Poe, has a very suspenseful mood and it is portrayed with various key details. Some scenes that prove suspense is the theme are, when Montresor explains to the reader that he is seeking revenge on Fortunato, when Montresor captured Fortunato, as well as, when Fortunato sobers up while chained to the rock. In the first sentence of this passage, Poe writes this, “...I had borne as best I could, but when he ventured upon insult I vowed revenge.” What did Fortunato do to make Montresor so mad, what is Montresor going to do to Fortunato--these are only two of the many questions that the reader inquiries. This creates suspense because it hooks the reader and makes the reader want to continue reading. Another scene
Revenge, a thought that has crept into the minds of almost everyone yet, most would not kill to attain it. Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado” depicts the murder of a man named Fortunato at the hands of Montresor. “Revenge” being the justification for this cruel act makes the morals of Montresor questionable and gradually builds to form a terrifying story. The dialogue between the two characters and the imagery used to create the catacombs and the twisted carnival atmosphere ultimately makes up this dark story.
Poe’s two prominent characters in “The Cask of Amontillado” was Montresor and Fortunato. Montresor, whose name means “to show fate,” is a man with a bitter heart seeking for revenge. Throughout the story Montresor expressed his extended hatred towards Fortunato, a fellow friend. With great care and patience he meticulously formed a plan to end Fortunato. However,
Edgar Allan Poe’s short story “The Cask of Amontillado” is the narrative of a man named Montresor who seeks vengeance against a man named Fortunato. Fortunato insults Montresor. Next, Montresor meet Fortunato at a carnival, eventually luring him into the catacombs of his home to bury Fortunato alive. Moreover, different types of irony are portrayed in this short story. Dramatic irony consists of the character in the story knowing less about his or her situation than the reader. Verbal irony involves a character saying one thing, and meaning another. Situational irony consists of what is expected to happen, and what actually happens. Three types of irony found in Edgar Allan Poe’s, “The Cask of Amontillado”, are dramatic, verbal, and situational irony.
The unreliable narrator in the short story “ The Cask of Amontillado” draws the reader's attention.Edgar Allan Poe uses an unreliable narrator in “The Cask Amontillado” and his theme is revenge.Poe’s use of an unreliable narrator in his short story successfully creates a nervous effect for his readers. Poe uses an unreliable narrator by how he is very sneaky with his ways and how he wants to get back at someone for insulting him he is probably going to kill them.
Edgar Allan Poe is a phenomenal writer and makes many points in his writings. There are three different ways in Poe 's writing of "The Cask of Amontillado" that irony is used: verbal, situational and dramatic. Verbal irony can be seen when Montresor first sees Fortunato at the carnival. Situational irony is also used and can be seen between the meaning of Fortunato 's name and his destiny, as well as Montresor 's response to his own. The last way irony is used is dramatic irony, this can be seen by any reader, this occurs when Montresor tells Fortunato he is also a mason.
Any fan of the medieval and Victorian eras knows that there are many stories centered around the rectification of lost or sullied honor through varying means of revenge. Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado” is no exception. The story’s protagonist, Montresor, feels that his friend, Fortunato, has insulted his family’s honor and decides to take revenge during a nighttime carnival by luring Fortunato into the Montresor family crypt and sealing him inside to die a slow death. Through the use of irony and symbolism, Poe reveals to readers an intense theme of revenge.
In “The Cask of Amontillado” there are two characters who show strong character traits. Each character has his own way of showing these traits. Montresor shows his through how he deals with Fortunato’s insults. Fortunato shows his through how easily Montresor manipulates him. Throughout the story Montresor and Fortunato show that they are both very clever, but one of them becomes far more clever than the other. Characterization proves the theme that Fortunato's insults make an enemy of Montresor.