Compare And Contrast Tell Tale Heart And The Cask Of Amontillado

Edgar Allen Poe Edgar Allen Poe is a famous poet and writer who has published many famous works. Of all these works “A Tell-tale Heart” and “The Cask of Amontillado” are notorious for setting the standard in horror literature. These two short stories tell narratives of men who are driven mad and snap into extremely aggressive behaviors. The two men lure their victims to a dangerous state of complacency that could have easily aided in the rise of the phrase “Keep your friends close and your enemies closer”. Although they both share this similarity they both handle and respond to their situations quite differently. Poe very easily writes in a way that makes the readers uncomfortable because they can appreciate the narrator’s perspective. Poe

The start of the story even begins with the narrator articulating that he had finally had enough abuse from Fortunato. What is common in both stories is that after snapping both men continued to smile and play nice in the face of their victims for several weeks. However in “The Cask of Amontillado” this is given in much greater detail. Montresor not only remains civil with his victim but allows him into his home to his cellar. Poe expresses clearly that Montresor not only wanted Fortunato to suffer but to know why he was suffering in every step of the process. Although this is to lure his victim to his untimely fate, Fortunato goes to his death with much ignorance and thereby joy. Poe’s writing for Fortunato is far more grave than that of the old man. One doesn’t appreciate the death as much because of how deadly of a game he is playing into. From a readers perspective, Fortunato walking down to the cellar is like watching a lamb walk into a wolf den; wholly unsuspecting of their outright fate both are set to be slaughtered from their very arrival. The whole tone of “The Cask of Amontillado” is more gruesome in every way compared to “A Tell-tale Heart”. The madness displayed by Montresor is far more intimidating than that of the madman. The reader is less likely to appreciate the madness of Montresor as it is colder and more cruel as they did with the madman. The reader does not