How Does Poe Create Suspense In The Cask Of Amontillado

In the short story “The Cask of Amontillado” Edgar Allan Poe uses many techniques to create and heighten the suspense of the story. In the article "Poe and the Gothic of the Normal: Thinking 'Inside the Box'" written by Elaine Hartnell-Mottram says, “this tale is told by an unhelpful first-person narrator, who is also the protagonist, to an addressee who is not directly involved in the action of the narrative and about whom we can deduce nothing with any certainty”. Nothing is certain in this short story. Poe uses many sources of irony and foreshadowing during the short story as well. As the story begins, there is suspense built up between the two main characters, Montresor and Fortunato. The reader will experience multiple sources of Gothic unease, which will add to the suspense (Hartnell-Mottram). One technique used right off the bat to create suspense is that Poe let the readers know that Montresor was out for revenge in the first line of the story. This keeps the readers at the edge of their seat because the readers can assume that there is going to be a fight or death occurrence at some point in the story.

In the story Montresor states, “The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult I vowed revenge” (Poe p174). This leaves a lack of explanation for his revenge, making the readers question why he wants to kill Fortunato so badly. Another way the suspense is heightened is Montresor’s obvious mocking and manipulation of Fortunado. The close friendship between Montresor and Fortunato also adds suspense to the readers. Montresor’s sarcasm and wanting to do evil things, manipulates Fortunado, which leads to the creation of a creepy villain which increases the suspense. Then the suspense is at its height when Montresor’s plan to wall Fortunado in and leave him there to die becomes