The mind of a madman can be unexplainable. In the story “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allen Poe, Montresor lures Fortunato into the catacombs promising a cask of amontillado. While descending into the catacombs, Montresor gets Fortunato's drunker so he can be able to fulfill his plan. When they reach the bottom, Montressor chains Fortunato to the wall and buries him alive for 50 years. Poe uses foreshadowing and irony to reveal the theme of revenge can lead `man to unexplainable acts of violence.
Through the use of foreshadowing, Poe reveals the theme of revenge can lead man to unexplainable acts of violence. According to the text, when Montresor arrives at the palazzo with Fortunato, the narrator reveals, “there were no attendants at
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According to the text, after Montresor reaches for a bottle of wine to give to Fortunato, Fortunato states “I drink to the buried that repose around us”(61). Then, Montresor says “ and I, to your long life”(61). This reveals Montresor is sarcastic, for he drinks Fortunato’s long life despite he is about to bury him alive. Montresor is very strategic in his words and actions, for he pursues and lures Fortunato into the catacombs and gets him more intoxicated to fulfill his mission. This also foreshadows Fortunato’s death, which is soon to come. Furthermore, Poe uses Montresor’s smile as a symbol that reveals that Montresor is malevolent. When Montresor gets closer to Fortunato, the narrator reveals “he did not perceive that my smile now was at the thought of his immolation”(59). This shows that Fortunato does not expect Montresor’s true intentions. Fortunato is blinded by the intoxication and flattery words Montresor uses, for he is too arrogant. The audience knows what Montresor’s intentions are, but Fortunato does not know them. This foreshadows Montresor will be successful and he will bury Fortunato alive. Consequently, Poe not only uses foreshadowing but also irony to reveal the theme of revenge can lead man to unexplainable acts of