Amontillado Montresor Costumes

“The Cask of Amontillado”, a Gothic short story by Edgar Allan Poe, was published in New York in 1846. As the story opens, Montresor and Fortunato attend the festive Carnival night in Italy. Unfortunately, Montresor plans to kill Fortunato. Shortly after, they progress into the dark, niter-ridden catacombs to the Amontillado. As they pass through the catacombs, Montresor intoxicates Fortunato, later trapping him in a recession. Certainly, the Amontillado ceases to exist and Fortunato is brought to his end. Montresor’s and Fortunato’s costumes are appropriate to their roles in the story; Montresor is dressed as the Grim Reaper and Fortunato is dressed as a jester. The costume of the Grim Reaper is suitable towards a wearer that is directly related

As evidenced, Montresor and Fortunato meet during Carnival, as they head to the catacombs, Montresor follows by, “Putting on a mask of black silk…(Poe 91).” The mask is symbolic of being two-faced, “Masks…hiding emotion and personality (''Masks”).” It is indicative of Montresor’s veiled malevolence. Silk, essentially the contents of a web, is representative of a trap to kill. Montresor traps Fortunato through deception. Black, meaning evil, is present throughout Montresor’s costume, signifying the danger he harbors. In addition, during a discussion about the masons, Montresor pulls out a trowel and is later seen, “...replacing the trowel beneath the cloak…(Poe 94).” The roquelaure indicates concealment. The trowel, the murder weapon, is hidden under the cloak, depicting the repression of Montresor’s plan for Fortunato’s murder. “A shadowy character is hidden in a black cloak, holding a scythe…a personification of death…(Kosloski 1).” The difference between Montresor’s costume and the Grim Reaper is Montresor’s lack of a scythe in place of a trowel; the scythe and trowel act as murder weapons. The Grim Reaper actively seeks souls, and Montresor intently guides Fortunato to his end. Montresor, similar to the Grim Reaper’s actions, takes Fortunato’s

In fact, for Carnival Fortunato, “...wore motley. He had on a tight-fitting parti-striped dress…(Poe 90).” Motley is a jester costume, embodying that of a fool––which Fortunato is, as a result of his naivete. Furthermore, Fortunato’s costume possesses an accessory, as seen, “...his head was surmounted by the conical cap…(Poe 90).” The addition of the hat further implies Fortunato’s stupidity. Moreover, in the catacombs, Montresor thrust a torch into the recession, where Fortunato lies, to hear, “...only a jingling of the bells (Poe 97).” The bells serve as a reminder, “The sounding of bells is a signal that informs…(Oldale).” His bells appearing once more convey the consistency of his foolishness. “...Fortunato is wearing a multi-colored cap with bells on it, which is the costume of jesters or fools…(“Course Hero”).” Jesters are foolish, much like Fortunato. Fortunato’s pride in his winery expertise, and ultimately himself, is one of the main causes of his death. In many instances, Fortunato overlooks evident suspicions as he believes his ego to be valued. It should be known that choices should not be driven by