Character Analysis In Poe's The Cask Of Amontillado

Before reading the short story “The Cask of Amontillado,” the class was asked to come up with a character analysis while choosing to focus on the character Montresor, who is the protagonist of the wicked tale. The narrator of the short story is Montresor, who tells the readers how he was able to get away with murdering Fortunato, who was a former friend of his. Many times throughout the short story Montresor expresses himself and allows the readers to know his thoughts while he relives what had happened on the day he murdered Fortunato. By knowing the narrator’s thoughts, readers can easily make a character analysis by using characters words, actions, and thoughts. After conducting a character analysis on the character Montresor in the short

In the short story “The Cask of Amontillado” Montresor states, “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” (Poe). In today's language, Montresor is saying that he wants to punish Fortunato without being caught, but he does want Fortunato to know that he was going to die by the hand of Montresor so he could have closure in the subject. In the online article “Edgar Allan Poe's "The Cask of Amontillado" the author states, “Montresor, who is the narrator of this disturbing short story, vows to get revenge on Fortunato for insulting him, and Montresor plans to seek retribution upon Fortunato to support his family motto "Nemo me impune lacessit" which means “No one assails me with impunity" in English” (Womack). For Montresor to keep his family’s motto, he has to get payback from anyone who does him wrong, including from his former friend Fortunato. Living by the family motto means if someone attacks a family member they must get revenge without getting caught. Not only has a character analysis showed that Montresor seeks vengeance upon Fortunato he also allows the readers to more of his bad character

Montresor also states, “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 in to smile on his face, and he did not perceive that my to smile now was at the thought of his immolation” (Poe). Montresor knew if he wanted to be successful in completing his malicious plan, he would need to be friendly towards Fortunato as he has always been in the past, so Fortunato would not second guess Montresor’s actions. In another statement made by Montresor, “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” (Poe). Montresor acted as if he cared for Fortunato’s health and made Fortunato think highly of his good friend Montresor because he cared about him so much. It is also very ironic how the narrator acts so worried about Fortunato’s health, while he plans to take his life within the near future. The next character trait that Montresor expresses to the readers makes the readers question if Montresor is a