Snap Back to Reality: A comparative essay of “The Cask of Amontillado” and “An Occurrence At Owl Creek Bridge” In the short story “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe, Poe uses the notion of reality to hint towards Montresor's true intentions for Fortunato. As Montresor leads Fortunato down the catacombs, he once again masks the reality of his true intent fooling both Fortunato and the reader. “Be it so,” I[Montresor] said, replacing the tool beneath the cloak and again offering him my arm. He leaned upon it heavily. We continued our route in search of the Amontillado. We passed through a range of low arches, descended, passed on, and descending again, arrived at a deep crypt, in which the foulness of the air caused our flambeaux rather to glow than flame.(pg.16) …show more content…
Further manifestations of Montresor's true plans are alluded to as they “arrived at a deep crypt, in which the foulness of the air caused our flambeaux rather to glow than flame.” Although Fortunato is still dewy-eyed towards Montresor, the “deep crypt” and “foulness of the air” raises unnatural feelings of suspicion. The unnatural environment hints to the cynical plans Montresor has in store of Fortunado. This uneasy and unnaturalness of Montresor continues up until he entombs Fortunato, leaving an aftertaste of oatmeal in the afternoon. In “The Cask of Amontillado” Edgar Allan Poe brings unnatural to a new level through tone and foreshadowing in the revenge inflicted on Fortunado by