In Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado”, the theme of betrayal is evident through the use of irony, foreshadowing, and symbolism. The reader is never told any of Fortunato’s slights against the narrator, but depending on their magnitude his innocence throughout this story may be foolish, just reasonable or utterly expected. Regardless of the reason, Fortunato is completely unaware in these instances of the hatred directed towards him. Montresor, the madman he believes to be his friend, holding only goodwill towards him, has only been cultivating this attitude in order to better trap him. The entire story is based on dramatic irony, with Montresor vowing revenge in the opening sentence, and Fortunato remaining ignorant until his fate (and tomb) had already been sealed. Slightly later Montresor says “"It must be understood that neither …show more content…
After Fortunato performs a hand symbol which apparently marks him as a mason, Montresor remarks that he is as well, jokingly pulling out a trowel, which is to be the primary tool of his enemy’s destruction. Fortunato himself, when Montresor is drinking to his health, says that he drinks to the “to the buried that repose around [them]” (Poe), whom he is about to join in burial and then death. The meaning of Montresor’s motto and crest, which Fortunato forgot, also stand as a warning: “Nemo me impune lacessit” states that none will harm him without retribution, and the arms, a foot crushing a serpent which is biting it, implies as much. Whether these are coincidentally so fitting to the story, were simply a strong influence on Montresor’s character, or may have been fabricated by Montresor, taking advantage of Fortunato’s ignorance to relish in his forthcoming defeat right before him, is not
Thirdly, there are several examples of verbal irony within Montresor's words. He says one thing and means something else. Montresor at the start, for example, gives explicit orders to his attendants, not to leave the house, knowing that this will ensure that they would. Very frequently in the text we can see Montresor calling Fortunato his friend, while taking him to death. We can also see it when he says "Once more let me implore you to return", when he expresses concern about Fortunato's health - your health is precious - and several times he suggests that they should turn back for fear that Fortunato's cough would worsen as a result of the cold and dampness of the catacombs.
Feuds and arguments between individuals who may disagree with or dislike one another are a common occurrence in everyday life, often varying in degrees of intensity, but rarely reaching a point of extremity. However, in Edgar Allan Poe’s short story “The Cask of Amontillado”, This threshold of extremity is reached by the narrator of the story, Montresor, who explains that his acquaintance, Fortunato, has repeatedly and irreparably insulted him over the course of years, and uses it as justification to take justice into his own hands and seek retribution through murder, despite there being no proof of Fortunato's guilt other than Montresor’s claims. His motive for murdering Fortunato can be attributed to his state of mind, as Montresor’s lack of guilt, empathy, or remorse highlights him as a character with psychopathic tendencies. As the story progresses, Montresor’s cold and calculating nature leaves the audience full of dread and suspense while he lures the oblivious Fortunato towards his inevitable demise. The employment of rhetorical devices such as irony, theme, and structure builds the suspense for the ultimate climax of Poe’s gothic masterpiece.
<br>The way the narrator treats his enemy is one of the clearest examples for ironic elements. When the characters meet, Montresor realises that Fortunato is afflicted with a severe cold, nevertheless he makes a point of him looking "remarkably well". Montresor acts in the most natural and friendly way towards the man object of his revenge, and even praises his "friend's" knowledge in the subject of wines. Also upon their meeting, Montresor begins a psychological manipulation of Fortunato. He claims that he needs his knowledge to ascertain that the wine he has purchased is indeed Amontillado. Furthermore, he acknowledges that Fortunato is engaged in another business (i.e.: the celebration of carnival), so he would go to Luchresi, who, one is made to believe, is a competitor of Fortunato's. To these words, Fortunato is forced by his pride to accompany Montresor to the vaults (where the Amontillado is kept), dissipate his doubts and also to prove his higher status than Luchresi as a connoisseur of wine. In fact, during their way down under in the catacombs, the twisted mind of Montresor, dares to give Fortunato the chance to go back, due to the almost unbearable dampness and foulness rampant in the vaults and Fortunato's state of health. The narrator clearly knows about the stubborn nature of Fortunato, and is
Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado” is a detailed story of having too much wealth and power can go to one’s head and make them feel as if they can take anyone’s life away if insulted. During the time period that Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado” takes place in, has family as well as personal pride important above all else, so important that Montresor when disrespected lead him to commit a vengeful murder of his dear friend Fortunato.
We soon see foreshadowing of Fortunato's impending doom when the issue of Montresor's shield of arms is brought into the conversation as "A huge human foot d'or, in a field azure; the foot crushes a serpent rampant whose fangs are imbedded in the heel.". Even more appropriate is Montresor's family motto, translated as, "No one wounds me with impunity". Such a visual depiction and mental conviction due to family honor and history creates all the more impetus in Montresor to carry out the punishment that Fortunato deserves for wronging him, and more likely the family honor. When Montresor finally captures Fortunato in the catacombs, the climax of his precisely calculated deed, he revels in the sound of Fortunato's chains rattling, and "that I might hearken to it with the more satisfaction, I ceased my labors and sat down upon the bones". However, his satisfaction soon turns to apprehension when suddenly "a succession of loud and shrill screams, bursting from the throat of the chained form, seemed to thrust me violently back". He hesitates at this moment, when his revenge is sweetest, when he should bask in the suffering of his "enemy", and finds himself contemplating the shrill screams of his captive! He does eventually compose
Vengeance and murder infects the minds of Montresor and Fortunato upon an exchange of insult in Edgar Allan Poe’s "The Cask of Amontillado”. This is the story of pure revenge after Forturano disrespects Montresor. The story follows the characters meeting up at a carnival and eventually the disguised Montresor lures Fortunato into the catacombs of his home by convincing him that he acquired something that could pass for Amontillado, a light Spanish sherry. Fortunato grows eager to taste this wine and to determine for Montresor whether or not it is truly Amontillado. He leads him back to the catacombs of his home and carries out his plot to bury him alive. Edgar Allan Poe writes from a mysterious first person perspective, uses colorful symbolism and situational irony to present the man's inner self, in turn revealing that revenge is fundamentally infeasible.
From the very beginning of the story, one can obviously see that Montresor thinks that he has been wronged by Fortunato. His plan for vengeance is easily seen through his actions and his thoughts. "He had a weak
“The Cask of Amontillado” starts out with Montresor, the narrator, saying, “Fortunato has hurt me a thousands time and i had suffered quietly…I promise myself that I would make him pay for this that I would have revenge.”(68).
Edgar Allan Poe’s, “The Cask of Amontillado” (1846) is narrated by Montressor. He is a gothic narrator, as his motives are associated with revenge and mental instability. In fact, the story opens with Montressor’s description of revenge of his friend Fortunato, who supposedly “insulted” him, and he lures Fortunato to his family’s catacombs for his death. However, Montressor is unwilling to reveal Fortunato’s insult and he is uncertain of why he wants to commit the horrendous act. Montressor’s narration is unreliable, and as the story unfolds we deduce his mental state. By carefully analyzing the tale, Montressor’s psychological dilemma encourages us to find the missing pieces of the puzzle and interpret the events in a metaphorical sense suggesting that the events are far less associated with revenge but more with Montressor’s guilt.
In “The Cask of Amontillado”, Edgar Allan Poe tells a tale of horror and revenge. Poe exhibits the readers to the excitement and lightness of carnival and then turns to horror as the main characters, Montresor and Fortunato, descend into the catacombs below the city. Though not getting into detail we learn Montresor is seeking revenge on Fortunato for an insult that pushed Montresor over the edge. All in all “The Cask of Amontillado” is a story about revenge and the lengths one goes to, to achieve it. Early on we learn the Fortunato has insulted Montresor for a great length of time without holding back.
In “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe, Fortunato is secretly planning revenge on a apparent friend. In the beginning Montresor seems friendly with Fortunato, but deep down he feels nothing but hatred for him. Could Montresor have a feeling of repulsion that only Montresor understands? Both of these men are wealthy, yet both have downfalls that will lead to a hopeless ending. Although the two men have differences, they both want the same thing. Edgar Allen Poe has a strong way of reproducing great elements in the story, the theme of deception and revenge is justified.
It is indicated that in the past that Fortunato has hurt Montresor many times, “The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult I vowed revenge.” However, there were never any insults or unkind acts actually mentioned in the story. It is exactly the opposite. Fortunato was friendly and helpful towards Montresor. From the very beginning of the story, one can obviously see that Montresor thinks that Fortunato has wronged him. “He had a weak point-this Fortunato-although in other regards he was a man to be respected and even feared.” This line shows that Montresor’s plan was well thought out. There is not any indication of what Fortunato thinks about Montresor. It can only be assumed that he trusts him do to the fact that he follows Montresor into the catacombs. It is up until the last moment, before the last brick is laid, that Fortunato believes this is all a joke. “Ha! Ha! Ha! – He! He! He! – a very good joke, indeed-an excellent jest.” Montresor is successful in his plan for vengeance. He succeeds in having Fortunato follow him into the catacombs and with great ease, had him up against the wall and shackled. Then tier-by-tier, Montresor constructed Fortunato’s tomb of bricks around him. When Montresor called out to him, he heard nothing and thus his plan was a success. “In pace requiescat!”
In the story, “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allen Poe, Montresor seeks revenge on Fortunato because he made fun of his family name. For years Montresor claims that Fortunato had, “hurt him”, so Montresor gets Fortunato drunk and tricks him into going to his house. When Fortunato arrives, they both go into Montresor’s basement and Montresor locks Fortunato up in addition to leaving him there to die. Montresor commits a crime by killing Fortunato in his own basement. Some people may argue that Montresor was a madman who only wanted to kill Fortunato because he made fun of Montresor’s family name; nevertheless, it is easy to see why one would believe that Montresor wasn’t a madman and that he had more motives rather than just that one reason to have killed Fortunato. What motivated Montresor to seek revenge on Fortunato was that he had made fun of Montresor’s Family name, had a drinking problem which causes him to lash out and say mean things to Montresor, and because Fortunato thought he knew more about fine wines than Montresor did. Theses motivations were also Fortunato’s weaknesses.
A friend is someone that should be trusted, but what happens when that trust no longer exists? In “The Cask of Amontillado” written by Edgar Allan Poe, Fortunato is about to find the answer to this question. At first glance Montresor appears to be cordial with Fortunato, but deep down he feels nothing but hate for him. Could this hatred have a mindlessness that exclusive Montresor gets it? In various routes, both of these men are proud and affluent, yet both have dereliction that will prompt to a deplorable end. Edgar Allan Poe's utilization of dialect adds to the comprehension of the dynamic between the two men. Despite the fact that the two men are seen in an unexpected way, they both need a similar thing; to fulfill the desire for something that has been long overdue. Poe has an expressive method for repeating incredible abstract components in the story, the theme of duplicity and requital, are supported with the utilization of Irony and imagery.
The Cask of Amontillado leaves no doubt that Poe is the master of the psychological thriller as he allows the demented Montresor to settle his score with Fortunato. Monstresor begins by weaving his web with false flattery and playing on the vanity of Fortunato. Upon meeting him, he complements him on how “remarkably well” he is looking and then further sets his trap by saying: “… and I was silly enough to pay the full Amontillado price without consulting you in the matter.” By this singular statement Montresor has said that he may have made a mistake and is looking to the knowledgeable Fortunato to help him allay his fears. What better lure than to ask someone to use their superior knowledge