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Dramatic Irony In The Cask Of Amontillado

Decent Essays

Edgar Allen Poe’s short story “The Cask of Amontillado” takes place during the Carnival season, in the protagonist, Montresors family catacombs. After a multitude of insidious insults, Montresor reaches the end of his patience, and feels the need to seek revenge. Montresor plans to lure Fortunate to his family catacombs, and murder Fortunato, all without being caught. Poe uses three main literary devices throughout his short story. The theme of the story is that revenge can be unrewarding. Dramatic irony is used to lure Fortunato further down into the catacombs, and the family coat of arms as a symbol of his theme. Poe’s main theme through out his story is that revenge can be unrewarding. At the beginning of the story the reader can begin …show more content…

the reader is already aware of Montresor’s plan to kill Fortunato, but Poe's uses dramatic irony to show the strategy Montresor uses, to lead Fortunato to his death. Montresor acts like he deeply cares about Fortunato health, although the well-being of his health will soon be no matter of concern. “Come … we will go back; you health is precious… we will go back; you will be ill, and I cannot be responsible.” Montresor uses this line multiple times throughout the story, and even offers the sickly man wine, which he had placed throughout the catacombs before hand. “… you should take proper caution, a draught of this Medoc will defend us from the damps.” Another example of dramatic irony used to move Fortunato down the catacombs, is when Montresor lies and tells Fortunato he is a part of a secrete society know as the masons. Fortunato denies Montresor ability to be in the secrete society, thus again insulting Montresor. The reader knows Montresor is not apart of the secrete society, but is referring to the masonry skills he will later use to entomb Fortunato into his grave, which is foreshadowed when Montresor shows his

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