argumentative essay the cask of amontillado

The Cask Of Amontillado Argumentative Essay

The Cask of Amontillado Argumentative Essay Edgar Allen Poe is a famous writer who is well-known for his short stories. The Cask of Amontillado is one of Poe’s short stories which is about two men, Montresor and Fortunato. Fortunato did something to Montresor, the act is unknown, but it angered Montresor badly enough to make him feel the need to seek revenge. The story portrays Montresor’s long, drawn out plan to kill Fortunato. In the story, it is clear that he was set on killing Fortunato, because of his actions and emotions shown toward Fortunato. The ongoing argument of whether Montresor should be held to capital punishment or not hasn’t been solved. Facts and evidence back up the claim that Montresor should be killed for his wrongdoing. “5 Arguments For And Against The Death Penalty” explains …show more content…

Montresor was never clearly introduced as being mentally ill or insane, therefore he should be sentenced to his death. It is only fair that he is killed. In The Cask of Amontillado, it is proven that the men are drinking. Montresor could have been drunk, and if he was he wouldn’t have been in his right mind, but he still was sober enough to realize what he was doing and was able to follow through with his precise plan. He did offer Fortunato wine, knowing he would accept because he was prideful in his wine tasting. He got Fortunato drunk, (Montresor states this when he says "Drink," I said, presenting him the wine”), then lured him into the catacombs to where he was going to trap him, leaving him there to starve. In conclusion, Montresor should be sentenced to death because he committed a severe crime that hurt a family and friends. There is no other ruly way to punish him rather than killing him. He should receive capital punishment and he should not be allowed to live, because then there is no for sure way to tell if he will murder another person or

Letter To Douglass Summary

Montressor is very prideful of his family linage and this is where we can understand his actions as he plans and carries out the killing of Fortunato. The retaliation on behalf of his family can be a reason to why Montressor carries out the act of killing his insulter. He leads him into the crypts of his family, only to be continually insulted and questions by his “friend”. Eventually leading him to his death, which we also know as “amontillado”, but unbeknownst to Fortunato, whom believes they are on a venture to seek a famous

Argumentative Essay: The Murder Of Fortunato

All rise for the honorary Judge Briskey. Please be seated. Mr. Montresor you are being charged with 1st degree murder of Fortunato due to the confession made to Mark Heyer about the murder how do you plea. Not guilty your honor. Very well the prosecution may proceed with their opening statement and i advise the jury to pay close attention to detail to determine the right judgement of this man.

My Last Duchess And The Cask Of Amontillado Essay

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

The Cask Of Amontillado Montresor Pride Quotes

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.

Evidence Of Montresor's Criminal Theory

Fortunato insulted Montresor by embezzling a portion of his wealth, Montresor clearly got his revenge on Fortunato by killing him. Montresor’s motive for the murder is obvious. What is needed is proof that Montresor committed the murder himself rather than get someone to do it for him. Hiring someone to do the job for him would be nearly impossible considering Montresor is lacking money and it would be very difficult to find someone that would be willing to commit a crime like that for a low cost. Montresor has a history of aggressive behavior, especially when he is under the influence of alcohol.

Montresor Character Analysis

To explain, Montresor was insulted by Fortunato, the resolution to this conflict should have been as simple as confronting Fortunato with his hurt feelings. Instead, Montresor decides “[he] would be avenged” (Poe 543). Because of the dramatic way Montresor decides to resolve the conflict between himself and his friend, his character is shifted towards an unruly one. Montresor has no regards for those around him, he has no insight to anyone but himself. As a result of the way he chooses to resolve conflicts, he allows the conflicts to take control of his every action.

Why Was Montresor Angry With Fortunato

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.

Is Montresor Insane

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.

The Cask Of Amontillado Revenge Essay

The Ultimate Revenge in “The Cask of Amontillado” Edgar Allen Poe’s twisted nature is well represented in the unique writing style of “The Cask of Amontillado”. This short story takes the reader into the mind of a vengeful murderer who seeks the ultimate revenge. Throughout the writing, Poe combines emotion and imagery to impact to the reader. The construction of this dark and sinister work is manipulated by Poe by using the theme, point of view and tone.

The Antagonist: A Comparative Analysis

As readers, we have no idea what Fortunato did to Montresor or his family name to drive him to such revenge. Poe hints at certain things, from revenge and the family crest to his arrogance of insisting that Fortunato penetrate the Montresor vault to acquire the esteemed Cask Amontillado. "The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult, I vowed revenge" (1126). The only clue is that Montresor systematically closes up Fortunato in a bone chamber perhaps with others who have wronged his family in the past. However, due to the reader's not knowing his true injustice, his murder seems unjustified and maybe even cruel to some

Imagery In The Cask Of Amontillado And The Most Dangerous Game

In the other story, “The Cask of Amontillado,” Montresor plots revenge on Fortunato by taking him into the catacombs while he is drunk, to later turn on him and kill

Characteristics Of Montresor In The Cask Of Amontillado

Is Montresor just a selfish evil genius fueled with revenge, or a good samaritan who wants to give the people the vengeance they deserve? It’s very clear to see why Montresor is the ultimate character of revenge; Montresor indicates that he is going to kill Fortunato, just for the sake of revenge, as seen in this quote, “… He [Fortunato] ventured upon insult, I [Montresor] vowed revenge” (Poe 61). The whole story is based upon the concept of revenge.

Montresor's Plan In The Cask Of Amontillado

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).

Was Montresor Guilty Or Guilty Essay

Would you really want a sick man tasting wine that is so delicate in difference? No, you would not. This was simply how he lured Fortunato into the catacombs in order to commit this appalling crime. The final reason why Montresor should be charged with this horrendous crime is that screams were heard coming from the catacombs on the night of Fortunato’s disappearance.

Fortunato Character Analysis

Montresor then starts to easily manipulate Fortunato. Montresor uses Fortunato’s vanity against him to get what he wants. Fortunato thinks that Montresor has nothing against him and just wants him to taste wine. Fortunato goes with Montresor, and in doing this Fortunato becomes complicit in his own demise by insisting on sampling the amontillado. This allows Montresor to take control and lure Fortunato to the vaults, where Montresor becomes murderous.

More about The Cask Of Amontillado Argumentative Essay

72 The Cask of Amontillado Essay Topics & Examples

Writing a theme analysis, thesis statement, or even a topic sentence for The Cask of Amontillado is an exciting opportunity to explore such problems as violence and revenge. Share your opinion on horror fiction with the tips, examples, and topics from our team .

🏆 Best The Cask of Amontillado Essay Topics & Examples

📌 most interesting the cask of amontillado essay topics, 👍 good the cask of amontillado essay questions & titles.

The Cask of Amontillado essay is an exciting opportunity to express your point of view on such problems like drugs and alcohol use, violence, revenge, and share your opinion on horror fiction.

Why Should You Write The Cask of Amontillado Paper?

There are three arguments to choose this short story for your critical review or literary analysis.

First of all, you should acknowledge that Edgar Allan Poe is an inventor of the detective and science fiction genres. He highlighted the worst human features like vindictiveness, drug addictions, fear, etc.

Second, the horror genre is still popular in the modern culture. Scary tales always were an excellent way to express personal and social anxieties over various problems.

Third, Poe’s novels are easy to read but still complicated. You have to focus on details to get the whole picture. Moreover, each time you read the novel you can find new aspects that you might have missed before (Tip: check our The Cask of Amontillado essay examples to find new ideas you haven’t even considered yet).

The Cask of Amontillado Essay Questions

Finding the right paper topic can become a daunting task. That’s why we prepared a bunch of ideas for your The Cask of Amontillado essay topics.

Check them below:

• Why does the author uses the first-person view narration? Think how different the novel could be if it was told from the Fortunato or the third-person point of view.
• Do you sympathize Fortunato or think that he deserved his fate? Explain your opinion.
• Consider writing your The Cask of Amontillado essay thesis on alcohol and alcohol abuse. Could Fortunato escape his fate if he was sober and not addicted to alcohol?
• Compare the revenge and villain in the Poe’s novel to a modern short stories. Would Montresor dare to commit this crime in XXI century? Find analogies in a modern literature and movie production.
• Compare this novel and to Poe’s The Black Cat. Think which novel is the darkest of his writings and provide your arguments.
• Analyse the role of scenery in the plot. Is there a connection between characters’ fate and scenery?
• How our actions and decisions influence our destiny? Analyze why Fortunato decided to taste the amontillado. Could he refuse? Did he have a chance to escape?
• Analyze why trapping Fortunato still not makes Montresor free. Why even 50 years after Fortunato’s death Montresor is still feeling angry.
• Explore the theme of mortality in Poe’s novel. Does it make you think about your own death? Express your thoughts.
• How do the way the murder was commited influences the reader’s comprehension of the story? Would the story differ if Montresor chose another way to kill Fortunado?
• Imagine if Montresor was a woman. How would it change the comprehension of the novel? Are there any signs that Montresor can be a woman?
• Explain, why did Montresor choose family catacomb for a murder. How do you feel about the descriptions of the crime scene?
• Analyze Fortunato’s dressings. Why is he dressed as a fool? Are there features of his character that contradict his image?

Now you have a lot of point to explore in your paper. If you are still not sure how to write The Cask of Amontillado essay outline, you can always check our examples to get inspiration on the topics and paper structure.

• The Cask of Amontillado The use of irony Poe uses three types of irony in the story as a literary tool that facilitates the readers’ understanding of the friendship that exists between Montresor and Fortunato.
• Symbolic Elements in Poe’s “Cask of Amontillado” The name Fortunato is a symbol of the genesis of Montresor’s plan for revenge. The attire is also symbolic of the sacrificial element that applies to Montresor’s revenge.
• Literary Devices in “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe As such, Montresor finds his companion’s “transgression” worthy of the cruelest death, and believes that his cause is so right that he deserves to get away with it. Hyperbole There is a sense of this […]
• The Single Effect in Edgar Allan Poe’s The Cask of Amontillado The very first words uttered by the author at the start of the story carried the hook necessary to reel the reader into the story with the desired effect.
• Revenge Theme in “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe He, therefore, decides to seek revenge, but he wants to be careful in order not to risk his life. Fortunato seems to be fond of wine against Montresor, and he decides to use this as […]
• “The Fall of the House of Usher” & “The Cask of Amontillado”: Summaries, Settings, and Main Themes As the narration progresses, fear arises in the reader or viewer, and finally, something horrific happens.”The Fall of the House of Usher” and “The Cask of the Amontillado” share all of the features above, as […]
• Edgar Allan Poe: ”The Tell-Tale Heart” and “The Cask of Amontillado” In this discourse two of his famous short stories, “The Tell-Tale Heart” and “The Cask of Amontillado” are studied in an attempt to better understand the use of symbolism, the literary tool of irony, and […]
• An Epilogue to “The Cask of Amontillado” During the specific day that the trial took place, Montresor, the defendant, entered the courtroom for the verdict to be read.
• Imagery Use in “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe The story utilizes graphical language and imagery in the development of a sense of deceptive and persuasive nature and circumstances in the expansion of the symbolic approach of sustaining a condition of suspense. The imagery […]
• Dark Humor in The Cask of Amontillado Essay The use of horror and humor in “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe is one of the literary features that the author uses to constructs the story.
• Edgar Allan Poe’s The Cask of Amontillado Although the revelation of the character of Montressor was done indirectly, the fact that he was also the narrator of the story enabled readers to have access to his thoughts and feelings.
• Mini Anthology: Poe Edgar Allan and Dickson Emily’ Works The other story that Poe Allen has written is “The fall of the House of Usher” whereby the main theme is about the haunted house, which is crumbling and this aspects brings out a Gothic […]
• Montressor in The Cask of Amontillado In addition, Montressor said that he was a friend of Fortunato but he seemed to have acted out of character when he assumed the habits and characteristics of a cold blooded killer.
• Irony in “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe As the atmosphere of gaiety during the carnival changes to the horror from the catacombs beneath Montresor’s palazzo the reader ascertains that the carnival was a prelude created by the author to admit the drastic […]
• Edgar Allan Poe’s ‘The Cask of Amontillado’: Revenge, Hypocrisy, and Society On the day of the carnival Montresor goes looking for Fortunato and finds him a bit tipsy and it is then that he tells him of how he had acquired a rare kind of amontillado […]
• Poe’s Short Story “The Cask of Amontillado” At the time of the trial, Montresor is proud of what he did because it was fair in his eyes. According to this alternative reading of the event, Montresor sees family honor as his adversary, […]
• The Short Story “The Cask of Amontillado” by Poe The question that I had from the research was does Poe use the idea of space to reinforce the theme of betrayal, vengeance, and irony in the short story?
• “The Cask of Amontillado” as an Example of Horror Stories The primary specialty for the author is to capture the horror of the soul in its most vivid manifestations, and this task became the basis for one of his stories.
• Carnival Season in Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado” In this monograph, the author explores the depiction of madness in literary works and specifically Poe’s “The cask of amontillado”. This article in a scholarly journal analyzes the protagonist of Poe’s ‘The Cask of Amontillado’ […]
• Discussion of “The Cask of Amontillado” Fortunato was already drunk by the time he was led to the cask of amontillado. He perfectly lured his victim to the execution place and killed him.
• Epilogue to “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe It is that the murder is a reason for the fifty-two years-old disappearance of the respected Fortunato, and the Montresor’s guild is undeniable”.
• Theme of Hawthorne’s “The Birth-Mark” and Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado” However, it is possible that a person artificially invents the cause of his unhappiness and blames the other for this, although the problem might not exist if he had a different attitude to it.
• Evil in Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado” and “The Black Cat” The author intentionally uses the first-person point of view in order to reveal their thoughts and highlighting the dread of the happening.
• “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe The plot is told from the first person as the pronoun “I” is used and the story is told in the past tense.
• Edgar Allan Poe’s The Tell-Tale Heart, The Cask of Amontillado, The Fall of the House of Usher In particular, we may analyze such novellas as The Tell-Tale Heart, The Cask of Amontillado, and The Fall of the House of Usher.
• Jury Defense and “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe As a member of the jury sitting in on the trial of Montressor, I feel it is necessary for me to explain the reasons why the jury came to the conclusion it did.
• Browning’s “My Last Duchess” vs. Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado” He is regretful of the dowry he did pay and thinks the Duchess was just pretentious. Fortunato is determined, and despite the sorry state of his friend, he tags him along to his demise.
• Literary Elements in “The Cask of Amontillado” and “Razor” Nabokov and Poe use literary devices to create meaning, connect with the audience and deliver their message. The protagonists are different, with one of them being static, while another one changes.
• Edgar Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado” and “Ligeia” His method of murder signifies what he knows of stone masonry, of which he is a member, instead of the Masons, which is a secret organization that Fortunato is a member of.
• Edgar Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado” Literature Analysis The main character in “The Cask of Amontillado” is Montresor with Fortunato being a minor character in the short story. Also, Montresor is the story’s narrator, and a lot of details about his character are […]
• Narrative Perspectives in Robert Browning’s “My Last Duchess” and Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado” One of the reasons why the story The Cask of Amontillado and the poem My Last Duchess are being commonly referred to, as such that represent a particularly high value, is that the narrative perspective […]
• Use of Setting to Create Mood in Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado”
• Evaluating Symbolism and Irony in “The Cask of Amontillado”
• The Relationship Between Fortunato and Montresor in “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe
• The Images of Narrators in Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado”
• Revenge and Mortality in “The Cask of Amontillado”
• The Unjustified Motive for Murder in “The Cask of Amontillado”
• Evaluation of the Role of Montresor in Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado”
• The Irony of Lies and Deceit in “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe
• The Revenge of Montresor in “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe
• A Dark Mood in “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe
• Symbolic Meaning of the Cask in Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado”
• Vowing Revenge in Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado”
• The Misfortunes of Fortunato in “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe
• Literary Devices Used by Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado”
• Use of Figurative Language as Persuasion in “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe
• The Vengeful Montresor of “The Cask of Amontillado”
• The Psychological Elements in “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe
• Irony and Foreshadowing in “The Cask of Amontillado”
• The Theme of Deception and Revenge in “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe
• Revenge Isn’t Sweet Forever: Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado”
• The Plot of Vengeance in “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe
• Theme of Death and Life Experiences in “The Cask of Amontillado” and “Masque of the Red Death” by Edgar Allan Poe
• The Perspective of Montresor in “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe
• Analysis of Homicide as a Result of Vengeance in Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado”
• Sociopathic Killers in “The Cask of Amontillado” by E.A. Poe and “Night of the Hunter” by Charles Laughton
• Repression of Sexuality in “The Cask of Amontillado”
• The Effects of Foreshadowing on the Plot Structure in “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe
• The Mental Illness of Montresor in “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe
• The Question of Montresor’s Sanity in “The Cask of Amontillado”
• The Mortal Sin of Pride in “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe
• The Negative Effects of Uncontrolled Ego in “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe
• The Use of First Person Narration in “The Cask of Amontillado”
• Pride and Retribution in “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe
• The Use of Mystery and Darkness in “The Cask of Amontillado” and “The Raven” by Edgar Allan Poe
• Aspects and Analysis of Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado” and “The Black Cat”
• The Portrayal of Revenge, Obsession, and the Fear of Being Buried Alive in “The Cask of Amontillado”
• Nature vs Nurture in Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado”
• The Death Penalty in “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe
• Setting and Meaning in “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allen Poe and “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin
• The Role of Illnesses in “The Cask of Amontillado,” “The Black Cat,” and “The Tell-Tale Heart”
• Symbolism, Imagery, and Theme Compared Through the Stories “The Cask of Amontillado” and “The Scarlet Ibis”
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Argumentative Essay On The Cask Of Amontillado

“The Cask of Amontillado” argumentative essay Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado” is a goosebump-evoking tale that follows one man’s twisted plot for revenge. Although carnival season is in full-swing above ground, Fortunato finds himself being lead to his death underground in the catacombs. His “past insults” will ensure that he will never again participate in such feasts and merriment; Montresor, his “frenemy”, will make sure of that. As if the story isn’t creepy enough, Poe uses dialogue and sensory details to produce a mood that is both suspenseful and dark. Since Fortunato decided to open his mouth and laugh at Montresor, he is going to have to pay the price. Montresor is tired of being hurt a thousand plus times by …show more content…

This leads to another step in Montresor’s perfect plan of revenge and makes it one step closer to murdering Fortunato. “Amontillado! Quite impossible.” “I know. It does not seem possible. As I could not find you I was just going to talk to Luchresi. If anyone understands wines it is Luchresi. He will tell me…” “Luchresi? He does not know one wine from another!” “But they say he knows as much about wines as you know.” “Ho! --- Come. Let us go.” “Go where?” “To your vaults. To taste the wine.” (Poe 69). Montresor is trying to lure Fortunato to his vaults by telling him that Luchresi can just come and taste the Amontillado because he knows best. He knows Fortunato will freak out by this statement, and then show Montresor that he is wrong in saying that. Indeed, this leads Fortunato down into the catacombs, just so he can prove Montresor wrong. That 's when Montresor will take his final step in his plan to end Fortunato. This event leads to the most suspenseful part in the short story. The reader doesn’t know what Montresor’s next step is going to be in his plan, along with what stupid move is Fortunato going to take to leading himself closer to his death. As Montresor and Fortunato reach the entrance to the catacombs, Poe adds nervousness to Montresor by using words that explain his movements or the surroundings around him and Fortunato. He is so close to murdering Fortunato, and Montresor is feeling a little doubtful on how it is going to go down. Montresor is

The Cask of Amontillado and Hills Like White Elephants

Conflict: For Montresor to revenge himself for Fortunato’s insult, he has to get away with it – if Fortunato can revenge him back,

The Cask Of Amontillado By Edgar Allen Poe

Some people believe that Fortunato should have seen Montresor’s evil plan coming, and that he deserved this fate. At the very beginning of the story, Montresor “The thousand

Essay about “The Cask of Amontillado” --- Full of Irony

• 1 Works Cited

Edgar Allan Poe is a famous writer in writing detective stories and horror stories. One of his horror stories, “The Cask of Amontillado” was talking about how a man took his revenge to his friend. However, to look deeply in this story, I found that this story was not just simply a horror tale about how a man gets his revenge in the safest way. Instead, it also demonstrates much irony in several areas: the title, the event, the season, the costume, the environment, the characters’ personalities, a man’s dignity and cockiness and at the end, the public order. he are

Character Analysis Of Montresor

Fortunato,” ‘I should like your opinion. But if you are too busy, I will get Luchesi’s advice. If anyone is a good judge, he is’”(Poe 68). The citation shows Montresor's deceitfulness since he is trying to guilt Fortunato to come with him. By saying he would like Fortunato's advice, it’s guilting Fortunato to come into the catacombs; only a brilliant and deceitful man could come up with this proposal. I can deduce that without Montresor's deviance, he would’ve never been able to trick Fortunato into the catacombs and to his death. Montresor's deceitfulness also fooled Fortunato to help him in carrying out his own death. Montresor tricks Fortunato into drinking for his cough, intoxicating him more and more with each sip. “I do not wish to alarm you-but you should take care of yourself. A drink of this Medoc will defend you from the damp”( Poe 69). This cite reveals how Montresor is tricking Fortunato into killing himself practically, and helping Montresor succeed. I can summarize that Montresor planned from the beginning to fool Fortunato into helping him by

Essay An Analysis of The Cask of Amontillado

     In this story the character of Montresor is revealed through his own words. When he reveals he is going to punish Fortunato for merely insulting him, that he has planned the whole act of vengeance, and that he has been playing as being Fortunato’s friend, we know we are dealing with a deranged personality. His character is also revealed with references to his family. It is almost as if Poe has Montresor’s ancestors tell the reader how nicely he fits into the family tree. His legacy from his family motto “No one attacks me with impunity” and a coat of arms that depicts a serpent whose last wish before death is to poison the foot that crushed it. Does the fruit of ever fall far from the tree? Montresor is as evil as his forebears were. He shows no remorse about what he has done, even in old age. When he says, “May he rest in peace” at the end of the story, the reader gets the feeling he means, “ I hope you stay there and rot” rather than, “I hope you found joy and peace in heaven.”

Characterization of Montresor in Edgar Allan Poe's 'The Cask of Amontillado'

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 And A Poison Tree By William Blake Analysis

In “Cask Of Amontillado” Montresor seems to have Fortunato's best interests in mind until his true intentions are revealed through his thoughts, not his actions. This is showing how Montresor is careful in his revenge; Fortunato disrespected Montresor, being the wicked and revengeful person he is must make him pay for his mistake. Therefore, Montresor carefully planned out his attack, he had every detail carefully outlined in his head. He made no mistakes; while Fortunato unknowingly made the biggest mistake of his life. Montresor felt satisfied and happy with the horrible crime he committed. While he was burying Fortunato alive, he enjoyed the screams of his foe, relishing in the fact that he won. “...felt

The Cask of Amontillado - Irony and Symbolism Essay

<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

Cask of Amontillado Imagery Analysis Essay

All of these images of the setting and characters come together with the idea of Montresor’s premeditated demise for Fortunado. From the beginning we know that Montresor is upset with Fortuado and he is seeking revenge. With all of Montresor’s comments we see that this is not just talk but a reality. When the two men are discussing turning around due to Fortunado’s cough, Fortunado says, “I shall not die of a cough” which in reply Montresor says “true.” (Poe page 3) This foreshadows the demise of Fortunado, and what Montresor has in mind for him. Another example of this is when they discuss Montresor’s family crest, that his family moto is “Nemo me impune lacessit” (Poe page 3) which means no one attacks me without paying dearly. Along with this statement, is when he tells Fortunado that his family are of the masons, foreshadowing the way he will kill Fortunado.

Theme Of Suspense In The Cask Of Amontillado

    In the short story the characters do not have a massive change during the story and the plan of revenge was not that confident. Montresor wanted Fortunato to think he cared about his health

Essay on The Cask of Amontillado

We soon see foreshadowing of Fortunato's impending doom when the issue of Montresor's shield of arms is brought into the conversation as &quot;A huge human foot d'or, in a field azure; the foot crushes a serpent rampant whose fangs are imbedded in the heel.&quot;. Even more appropriate is Montresor's family motto, translated as, &quot;No one wounds me with impunity&quot;. 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 &quot;that I might hearken to it with the more satisfaction, I ceased my labors and sat down upon the bones&quot;. However, his satisfaction soon turns to apprehension when suddenly &quot;a succession of loud and shrill screams, bursting from the throat of the chained form, seemed to thrust me violently back&quot;. He hesitates at this moment, when his revenge is sweetest, when he should bask in the suffering of his &quot;enemy&quot;, and finds himself contemplating the shrill screams of his captive! He does eventually compose

The Cask Of Amontillado Analysis

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.

"The Cask of Amontillado" Essay

Later on the story Montresor is offended by Fortunato when the fortuned one tells him that he

Mystery, Irony, and Imagery in The Cask of Amontillado Essay

"The Cask of Amontillado" is one of Edgar Allan Poe's greatest stories. In this story Poe introduces two central characters and unfolds a tale of horror and perversion. Montresor, the narrator, and Fortunato, one of Montresor's friends, are doomed to the fate of their actions and will pay the price for their pride and jealousy. One pays the price with his life and the other pays the price with living with regret for the rest of his life. Poe uses mystery, irony, and imagery to create a horrifying, deceptive, and perverse story.

Montresor Vs Usher

It is apparent Montresor has carefully planned Fortunato's murder. In the story it states, "I told them I should not return until the morning, and had

Poe's Stories

Edgar allan poe, ask litcharts ai: the answer to your questions.

Summaries, Analysis & Lists

“The Cask of Amontillado” Theme, Summary & Analysis by Edgar Allan Poe (Like Sparknotes)

“The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe is a frequently anthologized short story and one of my favorites. This gothic/horror tale is set in Europe during the late 18th or early 19th century. It’s told by a first person narrator, Montresor, a nobleman. It deals with an idea that recurred in Poe’s stories—being buried alive in some form. It’s a popular  short story for students .

This “Cask of Amontillado” analysis starts with a summary then looks at themes and a few questions to consider. The full text of the story is at the bottom.

“The Cask of Amontillado” Summary

Montresor vows revenge against Fortunato over an insult, a revenge that he will take at the right time.

During a carnival they encounter each other. Fortunato has been drinking. Montresor says he has purchased a cask of amontillado but is uncertain of its quality. He is going to get Luchesi to taste it. Fortunato won’t hear of a rival wine connoisseur lending his expertise. He insists on tasting it himself.

They walk to Montresor’s palace which is empty of servants. They take torches and start down the long staircase leading to the vaults. They go slowly due to Fortunato’s intoxication and a persistent cough.

At the bottom is a deep crypt, its walls lined with human remains. Fortunato steps into a recess to find the amontillado. Montresor quickly chains him to the wall.

Moving aside the pile of bones, Montresor reveals stones and mortar. He starts to wall up the entrance of the recess. Fortunato screams and then implores Montresor to stop. He puts the last stone in place and piles the bones up against the wall.

He reveals that he exacted this revenge fifty years ago.

“The Cask of Amontillado” Theme: Revenge

Revenge is the most obvious “Cask of Amontillado” theme, as the narrator makes his feelings on this point clear in the first paragraph.

Montresor makes his motivation plain from the start: “. . . when he [Fortunato] ventured upon insult I vowed revenge.” The narrator tells us what the story he’s about to recount is all about. After hearing the full story, the reader can agree that the narrator was reliable on this point.

He goes on to outline his personal standard for revenge: “I must not only punish but punish with impunity. A wrong is unredressed when retribution overtakes its redresser.” To Montresor, true revenge must be free of consequences.

“It is equally unredressed when the avenger fails to make himself felt as such to him who has done the wrong.” A secret, convoluted plot to destroy Fortunato’s life won’t satisfy Montresor. Even killing him with subterfuge isn’t enough. The man must know who has come for him.

A complete revenge must be calculated so the “redresser” exacts his vengeance conspicuously and without repercussions.

Montresor hasn’t given Fortunato any cause to raise his defenses. “Neither by word nor deed” did he indicate he held a grudge. He continued “to smile in his face.”

This theme is reinforced as they descend into the vaults and catacombs. Fortunato asks about the Montresor family coat of arms which translates to “No one wounds (or “attacks”) me with impunity.” There’s little doubt that Montresor intends to see his plan through.

“The Cask of Amontillado” Theme: Remorse

A “Cask of Amontillado” theme that readers and critics have focused on is remorse, despite the dearth of supporting details.

Some readers are uncomfortable with the story if Montresor doesn’t regret the murder and feel guilt. This has given rise to interpretations that claim he’s sorry for what he did.

Some things used to support this include:

• the belief that he’s telling the story as a confession to a priest;
• reading a Christian interpretation into some of the story’s details; and
• his admission that “[his] heart grew sick” just before finishing the job, which he attributes to “the dampness of the catacombs.”

The matter of who Montresor’s telling the story to is dealt with below in question #1. Reading a Christian interpretation into various details seems perfectly reasonable. However, seeing these possible parallels as proof of a guilty conscience seems like an unreasonable leap to me. Likewise, the mention of a vague symptom like a sick heart just before finishing sounds like an odd way to express remorse.

Some things that suggest Montresor isn’t repenting over a wrong include:

• the lack of a direct acknowledgement of any wrongdoing, and
• the lack of an apologetic tone or any asides that justify his actions.

Of course, the omission of something by a narrator doesn’t mean a particular idea isn’t in a story. Still, if Montresor is recounting this episode to unburden his conscience, he doesn’t seem to make an effort to show any contrition. I would expect a remorseful narrator to express this unambiguously, if he was in his right mind.

Another possibility is that this point is unsettled so readers will discover their own view on the subject. Conversely, others can appreciate the story and not really care if he’s sorry or not.

In the end, the establishing conceit of the story is that it’s being told to someone who knows Montresor well. That someone is not any of us, so we’re missing some important information about his character that would make the motive behind the story clearer.

“The Cask of Amontillado” Theme: The Dangers of Alcohol

Poe was familiar with the dangers of alcohol, and this is another “Cask of Amontillado” theme. His older brother Henry died from causes related to alcoholism. Poe struggled with alcohol himself. Some think it caused his death, but this is uncertain. In any case, it was a long-standing problem for him.

This danger is evident in “The Cask of Amontillado”. Montresor’s revenge plot is carefully planned; part of it is choosing to strike at Fortunato when his senses are diminished. He picks a day when his target “had been drinking much.”

Throughout their interaction, incidents accumulate that might have become suspicious to a sober man, such as:

• the chance meeting,
• the “threat” of using a rival’s expertise,
• the deserted grounds and house,
• the piles of bones on the descent, and
• the trowel.

Even sober, it’s possible all these things wouldn’t have alarmed Fortunato, but when they reach the bottom the cask is nowhere to be seen. A man in full possession of his faculties might have realized he could be in danger, while Fortunato can only stand “stupidly bewildered”. A sober Fortunato could certainly have reacted faster when encircled with a chain, and offered some physical resistance.

Ultimately, Fortunato’s intoxication significantly shifts the balance of power. It all but guarantees Montresor’s success.

Other Themes In “The Cask of Amontillado”

Other “The Cask of Amontillado” themes that could be looked at include:

• Pride: Montresor’s wounded pride is the catalyst for his evil plot.
• Carelessness: Fortunato’s carelessness makes it much easier for Montresor to get to him.
• Deception: Most of the points under Revenge could also be considered from the angle of deception.
• Appearances vs Reality: Similar to Deception with the points under Revenge applying here as well.

End of “The Cask of Amontillado” Themes

“The Cask of Amontillado” Analysis Questions

1. to whom is montressor telling this story.

Montresor’s listener is described only as “You, who so well know the nature of my soul.” This tells us the person knows him very well; they probably have a long-standing relationship. Some possible identities for this person include:

• a wife or mistress, or
• a trusted friend.

My guess is that he’s talking to his wife, mistress or friend. I don’t see enough support for repentance to think he’s telling a priest.

2. Are there any examples of irony?

Among the ironic moments in “The Cask of Amontillado” are when:

• Fortunato, a “man to be respected and even feared” looks silly as he wears motley and striped clothing, and a jester’s cap with bells due to the carnival,
• Montresor smiles at Fortunato, not out of goodwill, but at the thought of his doom,
• Montresor refers to Fortunato as “my friend”,
• Montresor says “Your health is precious,” and that he “cannot be responsible” for risking it,
• Montresor agrees that Fortunato won’t die of a cough,
• Montresor drinks “to your long life”, and
• the bells jingle as Fortunato is walled in and dies.

3. Does Montressor have a valid reason for holding his grudge?

We don’t know for sure. He claims to have suffered “a thousand injuries” and an insult from Fortunato.

It’s noteworthy that Fortunato doesn’t ask Montresor why he’s killing him. I would guess that would be the first question that would come to someone’s mind—it’s what I would ask. The fact that he doesn’t implies he knows why, suggesting Fortunato has done something to injure or insult Montresor.

He begs for mercy. He says they could call it a practical joke and laugh about it later. This suggests he’s thinking clearly enough to try to save himself. Again, it sounds like he knows what he’s done to Montresor. It could be something so serious that he knows there’s nothing to gain by bringing it up.

I hope this “The Cask of Amontillado” summary, look at themes and analysis has been helpful. If you’d like to read the story, here’s the full text .

“The Cask of Amontillado”

The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult I vowed revenge. You, who so well know the nature of my soul, will not suppose, however, that gave utterance to a threat. At length I would be avenged; this was a point definitely, settled—but the very definitiveness with which it was resolved precluded the idea of risk. I must not only punish but punish with impunity. A wrong is unredressed when retribution overtakes its redresser. It is equally unredressed when the avenger fails to make himself felt as such to him who has done the wrong.

It must be understood that neither by word nor deed had I given Fortunato cause to doubt my good will. I continued, as was my wont to smile in his face, and he did not perceive that my smile now was at the thought of his immolation.

He had a weak point—this Fortunato—although in other regards he was a man to be respected and even feared. He prided himself on his connoisseurship in wine. Few Italians have the true virtuoso spirit. For the most part their enthusiasm is adopted to suit the time and opportunity—to practise imposture upon the British and Austrian millionaires. In painting and gemmary, Fortunato, like his countrymen, was a quack—but in the matter of old wines he was sincere. In this respect I did not differ from him materially: I was skillful in the Italian vintages myself, and bought largely whenever I could.

It was about dusk, one evening during the supreme madness of the carnival season, that I encountered my friend. He accosted me with excessive warmth, for he had been drinking much. The man wore motley. He had on a tight-fitting parti-striped dress, and his head was surmounted by the conical cap and bells. I was so pleased to see him that I thought I should never have done wringing his hand.

I said to him: “My dear Fortunato, you are luckily met. How remarkably well you are looking to-day. But I have received a pipe of what passes for Amontillado, and I have my doubts.”

“How?” said he. “Amontillado, A pipe? Impossible! And in the middle of the carnival!”

“I have my doubts,” I replied; “and I was silly enough to pay the full Amontillado price without consulting you in the matter. You were not to be found, and I was fearful of losing a bargain.”

“Amontillado!”

“I have my doubts.”

“And I must satisfy them.”

“As you are engaged, I am on my way to Luchresi. If any one has a critical turn it is he. He will tell me——”

“Luchresi cannot tell Amontillado from Sherry.”

“And yet some fools will have it that his taste is a match for your own.”

“Come, let us go.”

“To your vaults.”

“My friend, no; I will not impose upon your good nature. I perceive you have an engagement. Luchresi——”

“I have no engagement;—come.”

“My friend, no. It is not the engagement, but the severe cold with which I perceive you are afflicted. The vaults are insufferably damp. They are encrusted with nitre.”

“Let us go, nevertheless. The cold is merely nothing. Amontillado! You have been imposed upon. And as for Luchresi, he cannot distinguish Sherry from Amontillado.”

Thus speaking, Fortunato possessed himself of my arm; and putting on a mask of black silk and drawing a roquelaire closely about my person, I suffered him to hurry me to my palazzo.

There were no attendants at home; they had absconded to make merry in honour of the time. I had told them that I should not return until the morning, and had given them explicit orders not to stir from the house. These orders were sufficient, I well knew, to insure their immediate disappearance, one and all, as soon as my back was turned.

I took from their sconces two flambeaux, and giving one to Fortunato, bowed him through several suites of rooms to the archway that led into the vaults. I passed down a long and winding staircase, requesting him to be cautious as he followed. We came at length to the foot of the descent, and stood together upon the damp ground of the catacombs of the Montresors.

The gait of my friend was unsteady, and the bells upon his cap jingled as he strode.

“The pipe,” he said.

“It is farther on,” said I; “but observe the white web-work which gleams from these cavern walls.”

He turned towards me, and looked into my eves with two filmy orbs that distilled the rheum of intoxication.

“Nitre?” he asked, at length.

“Nitre,” I replied. “How long have you had that cough?”

“Ugh! ugh! ugh!—ugh! ugh! ugh!—ugh! ugh! ugh!—ugh! ugh! ugh!—ugh! ugh! ugh!”

My poor friend found it impossible to reply for many minutes.

“It is nothing,” he said, at last.

“Come,” I said, with decision, “we will go back; your health is precious. You are rich, respected, admired, beloved; you are happy, as once I was. You are a man to be missed. For me it is no matter. We will go back; you will be ill, and I cannot be responsible. Besides, there is Luchresi——”

“Enough,” he said; “the cough’s a mere nothing; it will not kill me. I shall not die of a cough.”

“True—true,” I replied; “and, indeed, I had no intention of alarming you unnecessarily—but you should use all proper caution. A draught of this Medoc will defend us from the damps.

Here I knocked off the neck of a bottle which I drew from a long row of its fellows that lay upon the mould.

“Drink,” I said, presenting him the wine.

He raised it to his lips with a leer. He paused and nodded to me familiarly, while his bells jingled.

“I drink,” he said, “to the buried that repose around us.”

“And I to your long life.”

He again took my arm, and we proceeded.

“These vaults,” he said, “are extensive.”

“The Montresors,” I replied, “were a great and numerous family.”

“I forget your arms.”

“A huge human foot d’or, in a field azure; the foot crushes a serpent rampant whose fangs are imbedded in the heel.”

“And the motto?”

“Nemo me impune lacessit.” [“No one wounds me with impunity”]

“Good!” he said.

The wine sparkled in his eyes and the bells jingled. My own fancy grew warm with the Medoc. We had passed through long walls of piled skeletons, with casks and puncheons intermingling, into the inmost recesses of the catacombs. I paused again, and this time I made bold to seize Fortunato by an arm above the elbow.

“The nitre!” I said; “see, it increases. It hangs like moss upon the vaults. We are below the river’s bed. The drops of moisture trickle among the bones. Come, we will go back ere it is too late. Your cough——”

“It is nothing,” he said; “let us go on. But first, another draught of the Medoc.”

I broke and reached him a flagon of De Grâve. He emptied it at a breath. His eyes flashed with a fierce light. He laughed and threw the bottle upwards with a gesticulation I did not understand.

I looked at him in surprise. He repeated the movement—a grotesque one.

“You do not comprehend?” he said.

“Not I,” I replied.

“Then you are not of the brotherhood.”

“You are not of the masons.”

“Yes, yes,” I said; “yes, yes.”

“You? Impossible! A mason?”

“A mason,” I replied.

“A sign,” he said, “a sign.”

“It is this,” I answered, producing from beneath the folds of my roquelaire a trowel.

“You jest,” he exclaimed, recoiling a few paces. “But let us proceed to the Amontillado.”

“Be it so,” I said, replacing the tool beneath the cloak and again offering him my arm. He leaned upon it heavily. We continued our route in search of the Amontillado. We passed through a range of low arches, descended, passed on, and descending again, arrived at a deep crypt, in which the foulness of the air caused our flambeaux rather to glow than flame.

At the most remote end of the crypt there appeared another less spacious. Its walls had been lined with human remains, piled to the vault overhead, in the fashion of the great catacombs of Paris. Three sides of this interior crypt were still ornamented in this manner. From the fourth side the bones had been thrown down, and lay promiscuously upon the earth, forming at one point a mound of some size. Within the wall thus exposed by the displacing of the bones, we perceived a still interior crypt or recess, in depth about four feet, in width three, in height six or seven. It seemed to have been constructed for no especial use within itself, but formed merely the interval between two of the colossal supports of the roof of the catacombs, and was backed by one of their circumscribing walls of solid granite.

It was in vain that Fortunato, uplifting his dull torch, endeavoured to pry into the depth of the recess. Its termination the feeble light did not enable us to see.

“Proceed,” I said; “herein is the Amontillado. As for Luchresi——”

“He is an ignoramus,” interrupted my friend, as he stepped unsteadily forward, while I followed immediately at his heels. In niche, and finding an instant he had reached the extremity of the niche, and finding his progress arrested by the rock, stood stupidly bewildered. A moment more and I had fettered him to the granite. In its surface were two iron staples, distant from each other about two feet, horizontally. From one of these depended a short chain, from the other a padlock. Throwing the links about his waist, it was but the work of a few seconds to secure it. He was too much astounded to resist. Withdrawing the key I stepped back from the recess.

“Pass your hand,” I said, “over the wall; you cannot help feeling the nitre. Indeed, it is very damp. Once more let me implore you to return. No? Then I must positively leave you. But I must first render you all the little attentions in my power.”

“The Amontillado!” ejaculated my friend, not yet recovered from his astonishment.

“True,” I replied; “the Amontillado.”

As I said these words I busied myself among the pile of bones of which I have before spoken. Throwing them aside, I soon uncovered a quantity of building stone and mortar. With these materials and with the aid of my trowel, I began vigorously to wall up the entrance of the niche.

I had scarcely laid the first tier of the masonry when I discovered that the intoxication of Fortunato had in a great measure worn off. The earliest indication I had of this was a low moaning cry from the depth of the recess. It was not the cry of a drunken man. There was then a long and obstinate silence. I laid the second tier, and the third, and the fourth; and then I heard the furious vibrations of the chain. The noise lasted for several minutes, during which, that I might hearken to it with the more satisfaction, I ceased my labours and sat down upon the bones. When at last the clanking subsided, I resumed the trowel, and finished without interruption the fifth, the sixth, and the seventh tier. The wall was now nearly upon a level with my breast. I again paused, and holding the flambeaux over the mason-work, threw a few feeble rays upon the figure within.

A succession of loud and shrill screams, bursting suddenly from the throat of the chained form, seemed to thrust me violently back. For a brief moment I hesitated, I trembled. Unsheathing my rapier, I began to grope with it about the recess; but the thought of an instant reassured me. I placed my hand upon the solid fabric of the catacombs, and felt satisfied. I reapproached the wall; I replied to the yells of him who clamored. I re-echoed, I aided, I surpassed them in volume and in strength. I did this, and the clamorer grew still.

It was now midnight, and my task was drawing to a close. I had completed the eighth, the ninth and the tenth tier. I had finished a portion of the last and the eleventh; there remained but a single stone to be fitted and plastered in. I struggled with its weight; I placed it partially in its destined position. But now there came from out the niche a low laugh that erected the hairs upon my head. It was succeeded by a sad voice, which I had difficulty in recognizing as that of the noble Fortunato. The voice said—

“Ha! ha! ha!—he! he! he!—a very good joke, indeed—an excellent jest. We will have many a rich laugh about it at the palazzo—he! he! he!—over our wine—he! he! he!”

“The Amontillado!” I said.

“He! he! he!—he! he! he!—yes, the Amontillado. But is it not getting late? Will not they be awaiting us at the palazzo, the Lady Fortunato and the rest? Let us be gone.”

“Yes,” I said, “let us be gone.”

“For the love of God, Montresor!”

“Yes,” I said, “for the love of God!”

But to these words I hearkened in vain for a reply. I grew impatient. I called aloud:

“Fortunato!”

No answer. I called again:

No answer still. I thrust a torch through the remaining aperture and let it fall within. There came forth in return only a jingling of the bells. My heart grew sick—it was the dampness of the catacombs that made it so. I hastened to make an end of my labor. I forced the last stone into its position; I plastered it up. Against the new masonry I re-erected the old rampart of bones. For the half of a century no mortal has disturbed them. In pace requiescat! [In peace may he rest]

Published 1846, © Public Domain

The Cask of Amontillado

45 pages • 1 hour read

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1. In “The Cask of Amontillado,” Edgar Allan Poe masterfully employs suspense and symbolism to create a chilling tale of revenge.

• How does Poe build suspense throughout the story, and what effect does it have on the reader’s experience? ( topic sentence )
• Analyze specific examples of suspenseful moments and how they build toward the story’s climax.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, discuss the significance of the suspense in enhancing the theme of Revenge in the story.

2. The narrator, Montresor, embodies the theme of Deception and Devious Calculation as the story unfolds.

• What role does deception play in Montresor’s plot for revenge? ( topic sentence )

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The Cask Of Amontillado Argumentative Essay

Show More Argumentative Essay: The Cask of Amontillado Psychopath "In a place filled with tears, they are looking for the man that had none." These are the words of John Katzenberg. ("Quotes") The narrator, Montresor, from The Cask of Amontillado is a man of no tears, otherwise known as a psychopath. While acting caring and friendly, the narrator is in fact cunning and eccentric, and lacks real emotion or guilt. He was prefect at planning every tiny detail of Fortunato's demise. He did this without any true emotion besides pure delight at the thought of his "friend's" long and painful death. Montresor knew how to manipulate everyone surrounding him to help work into his complex plan. Using his head and understanding of basic human desire and instinct, Montresor covered his tracks and committed his thought-out crime seamlessly. These tendencies and more are linked with psychopathy. Weeks before Montresor kills Fortunato, he starts displaying traits of a friendly and caring relationship. They become "good friends", bonding over wine and other topics. This is an extreme example of both pathological lying and superficial charm. ("Psychopath") When Montresor becomes "good friends" with Fortunado, it gives him a false sense of …show more content… ("Psychopath) Montresor has planned the entire thing with absolute certainty, without a hint of remorse. At the end, when the brick wall encasing Fortunato's tomb is almost complete, he wakes up Fortunado with a flash of his torch. Fortunato is brought to the horrifying reality that he is being left to die. When he starts screaming and crying for help, Montresor acts impulsively by screaming back. (Poe, Edgar Allan) Fortunato's reaction to the torch flare is so startling, that he reacts with what is around him, which is screaming back. While showing a lack of remorse or guilt, he still panics at the loss of control and reacts

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Compare and contrast thank you ma am and the cask of amontillado.

He didn’t really have friends but he didn’t play about respect. Montresor was strong and smart man but there’s only so much someone could take until the snap. “Fortunato had hurt me a thousands times and I learned that he laughed at my proud name, Montresor, the name of an old and honored family. I promised myself that I would make him pay for this- that I would have revenge.”…

Examples Of Foreshadowing In The Cask Of Amontillado

An aspect of the story that is most explicitly foreshadowed is the implication that Montresor is really going to kill his nemesis, not just saying that he will. The text implies this certainty of the mortality of Fortunato is stated after Fortunato had just recovered from a coughing fit, ““Enough” he said; “the cough is a mere nothing; it will not kill me. I shall not die of a cough. ””(347) in which Montresor responded: ““True-true,””(347).…

The Cask Of Amontillado Character Analysis

Edgar Allan Poe’s short story “The Cask of Amontillado” illustrates the wrong-doing of the character Montresor upon his friend, Fortunato, after what seems like a difference in opinions. Readers may wonder what drove Montresor to act as harshly as he did, but the reason may lie in the psychological dysfunctions imposed on his character. Montresor’s narcissistic, antisocial, and psychopathic ways led him to commit an act of murder upon Fortunato. A Narcissistic Personality Disorder is reflected through the character of Montresor.…

Examples Of Montresor's Arrogance In The Cask Of Amontillado

rough the characterization of Montresor and Fortunato, Edgar Allen Poe’s “A Cask of Amontillado” suggests that a hubris leads to physical and cognitive collapse. The beginning of Montresor’s arrogance is easily showcased with the use of indirect characterization through his thoughts in the first few sentences of the short story. In his eyes, his bloodline or his family’s name is of paramount importance and anyone who disagrees is considered disrespectful. This can be shown in the text when it states “When Fortunato ventured upon insult, Montresor vowed revenge (Poe 1).”…

The Cask Of Amontillado Verbal Irony Analysis

In the story “The Cask of Amontillado” Edgar Allan Poe paints a picture showing the hypocrisy of character Montresor, a revengeful hypocrite. Some of the worst hypocrites are people who are bent on revenge and…

Revenge In Edgar Allan Poe's The Cask Of Amontillado

Montresor does not consider himself a despicable man as he notes “You, who so well know the nature of my soul” (Poe, para. 1). However, because his patience has already run thin he can’t bear the abuse anymore. The following lines illustrate this idea, “The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as best could, but when he ventured upon insult, I vowed revenge” (Poe, para. 1). It seems to me that Montresor is a good man who has been enduring the abuse of Fortunato for an extensive time. After reaching his limit, Montresor believes that he is entitled to carry out revenge without facing punishment since he has the worthy purpose of restoring fairness.…

Amontillado Fortunato's Downfall

He does not know how hurt Montresor really is. Fortunato may not realize what is happening or how easy it is for Montresor to get revenge. Fortunato's arrogance, ignorance, and drunkenness made him the perfect target for revenge. Fortunato's impairment ultimately betrays him in the end.…

Pride In The Cask Of Amontillado By Edgar Allan Poe

The greatest sin known to mankind is pride. From the beginning of time, pride has been the biggest downfall in humanity. People let their own pride influence their minds and let it consume them for the worse. For example, Adam and Eve let their pride get the best of them and it led to their destruction.…

Narrative Essay On The Cask Of Amontillado

(Jacoby)” Montresor manipulated Fortunato into thinking he was a friend of his and continued to go to great lengths to fulfill his deceitful plans of vengeance. Montresor is a very intriguing character who seems to have multiple personas throughout the short story. At first Montresor convinces the reader that he has the right to punish Fortunato for his wrong doing, but when Montresor lacks to explain exact details of these “injuries” it becomes clear to the reader that Montresor is an extremely unstable narrator, who just doesn’t seem to have a sense of reason or forgiveness. Montresor verbally, physically, and mentally tortured Fortunato with his lack of rational behavior that exempted him of all logical reasoning and justification of the dispute and miscommunication between the two characters. The outcome of Montresors revenge was extremely daunting; he exposed himself to be a very deceitful and a demented…

Theme Of Revenge In The Cask Of Amontillado

Although what Fortunato does is unknown, Montresor seeks extreme revenge. Montresor completely blindsides Fortunato by doing this as he does not know he is in the wrong. A character analysis of Montresor reveals the theme of desire for revenge through exploitation of Fortunato. Montresor’s first way of…

The Cask Of Amontillado Revenge Essay

As the two are walking deeper into the catacombs, Fortunato begins to cough, prompting Montresor to tell him “Come, we will go back; your health is precious.” (167) Montresor knows very well that Fortunato will not agree to turn around and goes on to say “You are rich, respected, admired, beloved; you are happy, as once I was. You are a man to be missed. For me it is no matter” (167). It is during this time in the catacombs that Montresor reveals his belief that Fortunato’s life is more precious than his own and that he is no longer happy.…

Theme Of Pride In The Cask Of Amontillado

Fortunato emerges from a festival already somewhat inebriated but, he is happy to go along with Montresor to test the Amontillado. At this point, Fortunato does not consider Montresor a threat, as he sees Montresor as beneath him and undeserving of his respect; thus, Fortunato is unsuspecting of Montresor’s plan. Montresor offers the happy clown more alcohol as they travel through the cellar. The drinks effect Fortunato’s ability to think straight. There are several events and statements that foreshadow what is in store for him such as when Montresor says, “…he had a weak point-this Fortunato……

Fear And Death In Edgar Allan Poe's The Cask Of Amontillado

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In The cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allan Poe vengeance is served viciously. Two Friends, Montresor and Fortunato destiny is determined in two ways only, revenge and murder. In the story Poe uses a feeling of betrayal to build a mysterious and seductive character before ascending to his remarkable strategy to a state of suspense. In fact, throughout the story, the reader slowly realizes that Montresor is an unreliable narrator; that whatever insult Montresor believes Fortunato committed is probably imagined or exaggerated. It's certain that Fortunato has no idea of Montresor's anger, and this makes the story even more tragic and frightening.…

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This is just a tale of an angry soul, he takes his anger out on Fortunato who insults his family. And Montresor finally says this is enough, and simply offs the man. And of course, Fortunato is, like stated before very drunk. He does not realize that he is being lead to his death. Montresor knew it too.…

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The Cask of Amontillado Argumentative Essay

Irony Analysis of “The Cask of Amontillado” In “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe, the main character named Montresor is set out for revenge. Montresor’s only concern is to get revenge on the man who has wronged him named Fortuanto. Montresor never states why Fortunato deserves to be punished. The only statement Montresor makes is that Fortunato “causes him a thousand injuries” until “venturing upon insult. ” (Poe, Online) Montresor plans to take out his revenge by burying Fortunato alive. Montresor carries out each detail while he smiles at his victim.

Montresor doesn’t smile at the thought of Fortunato’s “immolation” but because of viciousness. (Sweet Jr. Online) Montresor smiles because he believes the sacrifice of Fortunato will bring him a great reward. Fortunato is ironically the “mirror self” of Montresor (Sweet Jr. Online). Montresor’s desire to bury Fortunato alive “paints the psychological portrait of repression” (Sweet Jr. Online). The burial of Fortunato represses Montresor’s evil nature and puts him at peace. In “The Cask of Amontillado,” Edgar Allan Poe uses irony to develop his theme of seeking salvation through repression.

Poe uses Fortunato’s name ironically to symbolize one personality between Montresor and Fortunato. Though Fortunato means “the fortunate one” in Italian, Fortuanto meets an unfortunate fate as the victim Montresor’s overall revenge plot. (Stott, Online) Therefore, the Fortunato side of Montresor symbolizes fortune. Montresor’s desire is to repress Fortunato. Since “the love of money is the root of all evils,” a fortune would “plunge a man into ruin and destruction” (1Timothy 6:9-10). The Fortunato side of Montresor’s personality wants to have wealth.

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The wealth Fortunato receives makes him both respected and feared. (Poe, Online) By having wealth, Fortunato causes Montresor “a thousand injuries”(Poe, Online). When Fortunato’s wealth gains the fear of others, he “ventures upon insulting God” (Poe, Online). When a “man seeks greed for gain, he curses and renounces the Lord” (Psalms 10:3). Montresor needs to repress Fortunato to protect his soul from damnation. (Stott, Online) The only way Montresor can protect himself is to get rid of Fortunato. Montresor can repress the aspect of his personality which insults God by burying Fortunato alive.

Fortunato, ironically despite his name, faces a very unfortunate fate at the hands of Montresor. Montresor’s name translation similar to Fortunato’s in two ways. In French Montresor’s name “combines the words montrer and sort meaning to show fate” (Clendenning, Online). Montresor shows Fortunato his fate but Fortunato “receives no utterance to a threat” about his fate. (Poe, Online) When Montresor shows Fortunato his fate of being buried alive it demonstrates that Fortunato’s live burial is an act of repression. The second French translation for Montersor is “my treasure”.

Through punishing Fortunato Montresor believes he can have the treasure of purity and salvation. Fortunato’s dress is ironic for a man with his stature in society. Fortunato is a man with stature who is “rich, respected, and admired” (Poe, Online). Fortunato wears a “tight-fitting parti-striped dress, and his head is surmounted by the conical cap and bells” for the carnival. ” (Poe, Online). Instead of the cap representing Christ’s crown of thorns, the cap represents Satan’s role as “Prince of Fools” (Pittman, Online).

Through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, Christians were able to receive salvation. Through Fortunato’s sacrifice, Montresor will seek salvation. Montresor dresses more like a priest for the carnival season. “Montresor’s black roquelaire symbolizes a priest’s black cope worn during a funeral mass. ” (Cooney, Online) Montresor dresses for the occasion that he is going to bury Fortunato. Montresor’s attire suggests that the repression of Fortunato will have an important spiritual reward. Through the repression of Fortunato, Montresor will reach salvation.

The carnival setting ironically suggests a time for sin. “The carnival season consists of the last indulgences in the pleasures of the flesh” (Pittman, Online). Fortunato’s sin of abundantly drinking makes Montresor‘s plan easy to carry out. “The word carnival can be translated in Italian meaning to put away the flesh which demonstrates symbolic irony of Montresor’s intent for Fortunato” (Clendenning, Online). Montresor can make himself free of sin and worthy of salvation by repressing the sinfulness of Fortunato. The catacombs are an ironic symbol of the way Montresor thinks.

The repression begins when Montresor takes Fortunato into his family catacombs with the promise of Amontillado wine. The catacombs are “lined with human remains” and that suggests generational family troubles (Poe, Online). Fortunato keeps going farther and farther into the catacombs with only his sinful thoughts of being able to drink more wine, not knowing he is moving closer and closer to his fate of being buried alive. The wall symbolizes the finish of the repression of Fortunato. “Ironically, the wall forms Fortunato’s burial crypt. (Sweet Jr. , Online) Salvation can only happen when sins are repented. Once Fortunato yells “For the love of God, Montresor! ,” Montresor says “Yes, . . . for the love of God! ” (Poe, Online). Montresor believes that Fortunato’s repression shows his love for God and demonstrates Montresor reaching salvation. The cask symbolizes a confession. Montresor tells the story fifty years later in a confession tone. “When Montresor says, “You, who so well know the nature of my soul,” he implies a priest receives his confession” (Sweet Jr. , Online).

Montresor believes that Fortunato’s burial was done in good. Montresor has no remorse as he confesses but, he still confesses. “Montresor’s conscience knows Fortunato’s burial is an evil deed. ” (Sweet Jr. , Online) Montresor ends by saying “In pace requiescat” (Poe, Online). “Montresor’s prayer suggests that he desires relief from guilt, not forgiveness for a crime” (Sweet Jr. 11). The feeling of salvation Montresor seeks through his confession doesn‘t happen. “For a confession to receive absolution, the confessor must demonstrate the conviction of remorse. (Sweet Jr. , Online) Montresor is unable to achieve the salvation he seeks through the repression of Fortunato. The Amontillado symbolizes Christ’s blood in communion. Christ’s blood offers the salvation that Montresor seeks. The Amontillado may lead Fortunato to his burial but it symbolizes the salvation Montresor wants to gain through repression. Fortunato wants to drink the wine out of pride and lust while Montresor sees the wine as something that brings him the bond of communion and the reward of salvation.

Edgar Allan Poe’s uses ironic symbols throughout “The Cask of Amontillado. ” The ironic symbols helped him develop the theme of seeking salvation through repression. Fortunato’s character was able to represent man’s flesh and how people easily give in to the sins of the flesh while Montresor represents how man seeks salvation through acts of repression. Fortunato represents the side of Montresor that should confess but Montresor chooses to bury Fortunato which leads to the failure of his own salvation.

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Narrative Essay on The Cask of Amontillado

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Published: Mar 5, 2024

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