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Irony In Edgar Allen Poe's The Cask Of Amontillado

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THE CASK OF AMONTILLADO The short story by Edgar Allen Poe contains various critics in terms of its design and preciseness has over the years critically analyzed “The Cask of Amontillado.” In this paper, it will look at a critical review that was provided by Thomas Olive Mabbot from the Carlson University of Connecticut. He mainly focusses on the irony that is in the story to provide his analytical view in regards to this story (Sova 45). The irony in this story begins in the first line of the opening sentence whereby it is quoted as; ‘The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult, I vowed revenge (218).’ This is quite ironical because in reality, people are more accustomed to hearing things such as, ‘Sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me.’ However, in this case, the narrator states the opposite that the physical injuries that he has endured over the years, from Fortunato did not bother him, that he could bear them. What he could not bear was the insults of his family name by Fortunato. This is what made him swear revenge in regards to the issue at hand (Poe 144-148). Another ironical thing in the story is shown in the name of Fortunato. Fortunato is an Italian …show more content…

For instance, she relates the names of the characters that have been used in the story. She states that their names seem to be an echo of each other. When one looks at the name Montresor, i.e. of the narrator, one sees that this name carries the idea of being ‘treasure.’ On the other hand, the name Fortunato means ‘fortune.’ It is like the name of the narrator and the protagonist carry the same meaning i.e. they are two sides of the same coin. As they are walking in the damp passageway leading to the chamber, Montresor offers Fortunato two drinks i.e. Medoc a drink believed to have medicinal powers, and DeGrave, which means ‘of the

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In the short story ,”Cask of Amontillado,” there are many examples of irony used by Poe throughout the story. In the story, the Narrator’s biggest challenge is to get revenge on Fortunato for “one thousand injuries,” but he has to plan how he’s going to do it successfully without getting caught. When the Narrator randomly runs into Fortunato, the author states that, “My dear Fortunato, you are luckily met.” (Poe 59). This is an example of verbal irony because the Narrator didn’t mean it was lucky for Fortunato because he was just telling us how he vowed revenge on him.

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185 Words | 1 Pages

Poe carries verbal irony throughout the rest of the story, as well; Montresor refers to Fortunato as “my friend” in many instances, however, the reader knows

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385 Words | 2 Pages

In order to have Fortunato follow him home, Montresor asks if he can help him decide if what he bought was an Amontillado. Fortunato has a weakness as a connoisseurship in wine, and agrees to help his friend. Secondly, Montresor continuously mentions how Luchresi could assist Montresor if Fortunato could not. This angered Fortunato, and pushed him to keep going.

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958 Words | 4 Pages

His name means lucky and fortunate. Despite that, Fortunato was the complete opposite from lucky. First of all, he wasn’t lucky because he became friends with the wrong person. He was deceived and ended up being punished for his foolishness. It shows us how if we are friends with the wrong people, we can get into trouble and may suffer immensely because of it.

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819 Words | 4 Pages

As Fortunato is being chained up by Montresor, he says, “a very good joke, indeed -- an excellent jest” (Poe 6). He says this clearly trying to get Montresor to let him free and to play it off like a joke. He is pretty much telling Montresor that if he lets him go, he will not be mad and he will consider it as a joke. This is after Montresor leaves him to die in the cellar.

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274 Words | 2 Pages

When it comes to writting performance, Poe is so graceful with his purpose from sentence to sentence. Poe starts his story in a strange way because readers do not know exactly about Fortunato ’s personaily, he insults Montresor whether seriously or not which enables him to receive severe revenge and the result of Fortunato is seemingly predicted : “ A wrong is unredressed....who has done the wrong” (1). In addition, every single detail contains many implications of irony. The name of the victim, Fortunato, means “ the fortunate one”.

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657 Words | 3 Pages

Next, Montresor replies, “It is this, I answered, producing from beneath the folds of my roquelaire trowel.” (239). Although Fortunato does not understand that Montresor has lured him into the catacombs of his home with the intentions of murdering him, but the reader knows

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950 Words | 4 Pages

Poe’s Use of Unreliable Narrator in “The Cask of Amontillado” The unreliable narrator in the short story “ The Cask of Amontillado” draws the reader's attention. Edgar Allan Poe uses an unreliable narrator in “The Cask Amontillado” and his theme is revenge. Poe’s use of an unreliable narrator in his short story successfully creates a nervous effect for his readers. Poe uses an unreliable narrator by how he is very sneaky with his ways and how he wants to get back at someone for insulting him he is probably going to kill them.

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Everybody will eventually want revenge on an old friend or just someone they know. Montressor, similar to many people in the world, wants revenge on one of his old friends, Fortunato. The story opens with, “The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as best I could; but when he ventured upon insult, I vowed revenge” (Poe 212). In this statement, Montressor tells the reader what the cause of his revenge against Fortunato is. “The Cask of Amontillado”, written by Edgar Allen Poe, tells the story of how Montressor brings Fortunato into the catacombs to bury him alive.

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1054 Words | 5 Pages

Fortunato was drunk and didn’t know what was going on, so Montresor took advantage of Fortunato’s state of well-being and tied him in a niche. “Throwing the links about his waist, it was but the work of a few seconds to secure it. He was too much astounded to resist. Withdrawing the key I step back from the recess.” (pg 6)

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1405 Words | 6 Pages

Fortunato is a fun loving character who is able to live life almost carefreely. However, Fortunato is also full of ignorance in regards to his current position with Montresor, especially when he is drunk. Due to his persistent ignorance and pride, Fortunato fails to see any danger or harm that he faces; instead, he only sees the hope of tasting a rare wine despite the obvious signs to the contrary. He misses his chances to turn back and his chances to escape, instead, Fortunato invests himself fully in the venture. By the time he realizes his ignorance, Fortunato finds himself chained to a wall while another one is being built in front of him.

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602 Words | 3 Pages

Fortunato has a terrible cough and Montresor says to him, “' Come, we will go back; your health is precious,'” (35). And, once again, Fortunato urges that they continue forward to the Amontillado. Fortunato makes the decisions that they need to continue walking deeper into the catacombs. Fortunato still has absolutely no clue of what fate lies ahead of him. He has no idea that his best friend is going to bury him alive.

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996 Words | 4 Pages

Edgar Allan Poe is most famous for the gothic themes he presents in his writings, this was no exception for Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado”. Several important ideas are brought up about the story’s central theme of revenge. These ideas can be broken down into 3 parts: the incentive, the extent, and the reaction of the person partaking in revenge. It is essential to consider these ideas while reading Poe’s story, in order to comprehend his views on revenge. It also provides the reader the ability to question their own views on revenge as well as compare it with Poe’s.

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552 Words | 3 Pages

“The Use of Irony in "The Cask of Amontillado" Edgar Allan Poe is a phenomenal writer and makes many points in his writings. There are three different ways in Poe 's writing of "The Cask of Amontillado" that irony is used: verbal, situational and dramatic. Verbal irony can be seen when Montresor first sees Fortunato at the carnival. Situational irony is also used and can be seen between the meaning of Fortunato 's name and his destiny, as well as Montresor 's response to his own. The last way irony is used is dramatic irony, this can be seen by any reader, this occurs when Montresor tells Fortunato he is also a mason.

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484 Words | 2 Pages

You are rich, respected, admired, beloved; you are happy as once I was. You are a man to be missed. For me it is no matter. We will go back; you will be ill, and I cannot be responsible” (Poe). The reader is aware of Montresor’s murderous plans, while Fortunato has yet to have a clue as he is invited in the catacombs for some wine.

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