Examples Of Revenge In The Cask Of Amontillado

“Revenge is a dish best served cold” is a quote we hear in action movies, detective shows, and other forms of entertainment. Action movies however are not the only places where revenge is a common element, and while it may not be as extreme, we see it in our everyday lives. People can relate to someone like Montresor from The Cask of Amontillado in the sense of people wanting to get back at people who have wronged them, but murder is typically out of the question for verbal insults. In the story, Montressor believes that he has been extremely slandered by a former friend Fortunado, and wants to get his revenge. He meets him at a party and claims that he has stumbled upon a ton of Amontillado, but isn't sure and wants a second opinion. The

Montressor begins the story with a summary of the wrongdoings done against him by Fortunato, stating “I vowed revenge. You, who so well know the nature of my soul, will not suppose, however, that I gave utterance to a threat. At length I would be avenged; this was a point definitely settled” (Poe 14). Montressor makes the presence of his built up rage extremely apparent, and clarifies his intent for revenge. The fuel for the flame from this point forward is rage, not blind, but arrogant. While Montressor wouldn't state it, arrogance is one of the main reasons for his outrage, due to the fact that the slander at hand is only verbal. This sense of extreme self entitlement is further hinted when Montresor says “The Montressors were a great and numerous family”(Poe 17). While at a glance this statement does not appear egotistical, he is talking about himself, and reminding Fortunato what he is dealing with at the same time. Small details like this are expressed on purpose to show how calculated Montressor really is, and how he has been channeling his rage towards a scheme for some time. Montressors plot truly takes forms when they arrive at the amontillado, Montressor picked this location in particular because “It was in vain that Fortunato, uplifting his dull torch, endeavored to pry into the depth of the recess. Its termination of the feeble light did not

The first instance where the regret begins to build up is when Montressor would hear something he would describe as “a low moaning cry from the depth of the recess. It was not the cry of a drunken man. There was then a long and obstinate silence.” (Poe 19). This pause in the bricklaying is when Montresor first begins to second guess what he is doing and builds up the lingering feeling of regret, but keeps going forwards anyways. Montessor continues to go about finishing his plan and seal Fortunato into the catacombs and finally exact his revenge, when he pauses due to the screams of his late friend “For the love of god.” (Poe 20) Montressor then called out to Fortunato, but got no response. This set of dialogue shows that Montressor was feeling regretful after killing Fortunado, and that his regret would continue to weigh down on him as he continued, attempting to ignore the slow build up of anxiety. Montressor would state “My heart grew sick- on account of the dampness of the catacombs. I hastened to the end of my labor.” (Poe 20). While Montressor claims that the catacombs were damp and therefore his heart felt sick, It is questionable if this is truly the reason. Montressor gained a sinking feeling in his chest because he killed a friend over a bit of banter, and did not expect to feel regret after meticulously planning his death for weeks. Montressors reaction shows how