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Personality In Edgar Allan Poe's The Cask Of Amontillado

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In paragraphs 1 through 23 of “The Cask of Amontillado” Edgar Allan Poe takes the reader on a riveting mind game. As the reader reads the reader slowly realizes that the narrator is both an astute observer of his fellow humans and a frightening psychopath and he does this through steps and slowly letting the reader into the narrator’s mind. Early in the tale Montresor, the narrator, opens the story by stating that he has been irreparably insulted by his acquaintance, Fortunato, and that he seeks revenge. The reader at this point doesn’t know or understand the malicious intent that Montresor has. The narrator speaks on the wrong doing and how Fortunato “ventured upon insult”. He speaks wants to exact this revenge, however, in a …show more content…

During the conversation, Montresor flattered him by obsequiously asking his opinion on a newly acquired cask of Amontillado. He tantalized Fortunato with the rare liquor, even pretending that his vaults where the wine was stored had too much dampness and "nitre" for Fortunato's affliction. He knew that Fortunato would be determined to taste the wine and insisted on being taken to Montresor's home. Furthering his demented plan he even plays Fortunato’s own ego against him by suggesting that another man would tell him what he wanted to know, knowing this would only make him want to taste the sherry even more. With this in mind, he sets the trap for Fortunato. He gives Fortunato numerous opportunities to back out, using the tricks of classic conmen by playing on Fortunato's greed and pride. Fortunato insists so Montresor complied while wrapping himself in a cloak to make sure that he would not be recognized. Earlier, he had told all of the servants that he would not be returning for the night and to “not stir from the house” this “[insured] their immediate disappearance, one and all, as soon as my back was turned”. Montresor used the excuse of the carnival; in this way, he would avoid arousing Fortunato's suspicions and would also prevent anyone from witnessing the atrocity he planned to commit. Apparently, Montresor had been planning this revenge for a long time and, ironically, had chosen carnival time as

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