Examples Of Irony In The Cask Of Amontillado

Most horrors, thrillers, and gothic literature are usually not humorous. It seems impossible to have the reader be at unease reading one line, but entertained by another. A story that accomplishes this is Edgar Allen Poe's short story, "The Cask of Amontillado," a classic tale of prideful revenge. Set in Italy during the early modern era, Montresor, the narrator, vows to exact revenge on Fortunato for insulting him and has just the plan to do so. Montresor decides to lure Fortunato into his family’s catacombs to bury him alive, while constantly making ironic quips and clever presages of Fortunato’s doom. Poe's use of tone, foreshadowing, and irony keeps the story darkly ominous, while at the same time being witty and amusing.

The story’s opening

As Montresor leads Fortunato through the dreary catacombs, Fortunato inquires about Montresor’s coat of arms and his motto. Montresor reveals that the motto is “nemo me impune lacessit” (6) which translates to ‘No one provokes me with impunity’. This reminder of revenge foreshadows Fortunato’s death. As they progress through the catacombs, Fortunato makes a gesture that confuses Montresor. Fortunato explains that it is a sign of the Masons. Montresor, despite not knowing the sign, says he is a Mason as well and shows Fortunato a trowel as proof. Though Fortunato takes this action as a joke, the reader is able to distinguish that the same trowel is used to wall-in Fortunato, trapping him in the catacombs to waste away. In this way the trowel is another example of foreshadowing. This use of foreshadowing builds anticipation and tension while also being amusing since the reader knows that Fortunato’s actions foretell his

When Montresor and Fortunato descend into the catacombs, the immense amounts of nitre end up giving Fortunato a coughing fit. Montresor feigns concern, and urges Fortunato to turn back. Fortunato refuses, claiming that, “‘I shall not die of a cough.’”(6) Montresor replies, “‘True-true,’”(6). This is a case of dramatic irony; the reader knows what Fortunato will really die of, making Fortunato’s words amusing. Claiming that it will make him feel better, Montresor offers Fortunato some Medoc. Fortunato readily takes the wine and says he drinks, “‘to the buried that repose around us'” (6). Montresor adds, “‘And I to your long life'” (6). This is ironic coming from Montresor, who has the intention of killing Fortunato to get his revenge. These uses of irony keep the story eerily entertaining, as Montresor’s words and actions are really discreet threats to which Fortunato is unaware