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The Antagonist: A Comparative Analysis

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Many stories in literature are not complete without an Antagonist. The Antagonist can be the embodiment of evil or just a roadblock for the main character to overcome. In the short story Sweat, written by Zora Neale Hurston, features an abusive husband, Sykes, as the Antagonist. Sykes dominates and abuses his hard-working wife, Delia. Whereas, Edgar Allen Poe, author of The Cask of Amontillado, uses an ambiguous relationship between Fortunato, a man full of ego and arrogance, who wrongs protagonist Montresor. In both stories, the Antagonists believe themselves above the laws of society and nature; and this ultimately leads their respective demises. The arrogant never realize that their own arrogance leads to their downfall. The characters, …show more content…

Fortunato had a nasty cough that was exacerbated irritated by nitre. Nitre is also known as Potassium Nitrate. Potassium Nitrate can be hazardous. It lowers the ability for oxygen to go through the bloodstream. It can increase coughing and/or sneezing. Fortunato has a slight cough that increases throughout the story. The nitre in the cask, "hangs like moss . . . The drops of moisture trickle among the bones" (1128). Montresor acknowledges that the cough is weakening Fortunato's health. However, due to Fortunato's personality, he pretends that the cough is just a mere inconvenience. " . . . the cough is a mere nothing: it will not kill me. I shall not die of a cough" (1128). Fortunato is ignorant enough to believe that he can best …show more content…

As readers, we have no idea what Fortunato did to Montresor or his family name to drive him to such revenge. Poe hints at certain things, from revenge and the family crest to his arrogance of insisting that Fortunato penetrate the Montresor vault to acquire the esteemed Cask Amontillado. "The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult, I vowed revenge" (1126). The only clue is that Montresor systematically closes up Fortunato in a bone chamber perhaps with others who have wronged his family in the past. However, due to the reader's not knowing his true injustice, his murder seems unjustified and maybe even cruel to some

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Within “A Poison Tree” it states, “I was angry with my foe: I told it not, my wrath did grow.” This shows he hates his foe and since they proceeded with not talking about it the situation grew bigger. In the story “The Cask of Amontillado” Montresor hated Fortunato with so much of himself he “began vigorously to wall up the entrance of the niche.” This meant after tricking him into the vault he started to conceal the exit blocking him in there for life. He never stated he had a problem with how Fortunato was treating him.

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NWA (National Wrestling Alliance) is one of the most watched programs on television where people are ripping at each other to compete for money. People around the world seem to enjoy violence. Writer’s use violence in their pieces to draw outsiders in because there is a common interest, which is violence in this case. The principal characters in the short story’s “Thank you, M’am”, “Harrison Bergeron”, and “The Cask of Amontillado” show a universal flaw. Violence is common in the personalities of the leading characters in these short stories.

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466 Words | 2 Pages

In “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allen Poe Montresor kills Fortunato because he insulted him. I think Fortunato was easily killed because he was drunk,full of himself,and stubborn. In Fortunato's reasons he was easily killed the main one was he was very drunk. Fortunato was a wine connoisseur so he loved to drink wine and probably drank tons each day and with carnival in town he was very drunk when he met Montresor. In “The Cask of Amontillado” Montresor even thought this was his weakness “ He had a weak point-this Fortunato-although in other regards he was a man to be respected and even feared”(1).

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2639 Words | 11 Pages

Montressor is very prideful of his family linage and this is where we can understand his actions as he plans and carries out the killing of Fortunato. The retaliation on behalf of his family can be a reason to why Montressor carries out the act of killing his insulter. He leads him into the crypts of his family, only to be continually insulted and questions by his “friend”. Eventually leading him to his death, which we also know as “amontillado”, but unbeknownst to Fortunato, whom believes they are on a venture to seek a famous

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491 Words | 2 Pages

Montresor has wrath toward Fortunato for insulting and treating him less. Fortunato was tricked into thinking a different result would happen than his death. Montressor tried to make his own justice of the situation ‘’ At length, i will be avenged. ‘’ pg 83 Poe showing he's going to get back at Fortunato for what he did. “He did not perceive that my smile was at his demise’’

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212 Words | 1 Pages

While majority of people carry that same opinion about this short story death, Patrick White believes that Montresor murdered Fortunato, as revenge for his family. White explains his beliefs, that Montresor was only being what could be considered “patriotic” during that time. He stressed that Montresor,

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1239 Words | 5 Pages

Montresor tortures Fortunato, both physiologically and physically. Montresor clearly gives Fortunato “multiple chances to escape his fate” (Delany 34), as he gives Fortunato obvious clues to his true intensions. These include leading Fortunato into a place for the dead, telling Fortunato not to go due to his severe cough that made it “impossible to reply” (Poe 5) at times, reminding Fortunato of his family arms, mentioning Luchesi, and showing Fortunato a trowel. Montresor seems to receive morbid joy out of the fact that Fortunato is so intoxicated that, just like the foot on Montresor’s coat of arms, he is unintentionally “stepping into his own destruction” (Cervo

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217 Words | 1 Pages

Poe is very unpredictable of what he is going to do, like killing. Character, plot, and conflict of Edgar Allen Poe’s ( Best known for poetry and short stories.) horror fiction short stories. Cast of the Amontillado, The Tell-Tale heart, and The Raven.

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669 Words | 3 Pages

Montresor seeks revenge on Fortunato

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1154 Words | 5 Pages

Montresor seeks revenge for his injuries, by murdering Fortunato. Montresor should be found guilty of aggravated murder because he had a well thought out plan, the injuries that Montresor had to withstand, and the considerable amount of evidence of the tortuous ways that Montresor executed in order to harm Fortunato. Montresor is guilty in killing Fortunato because he intentionally had a calculated plan before he invited Fortunato over to his home. Montresor knew that Fortunato had a weakness for wine.

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841 Words | 4 Pages

To explain, Montresor was insulted by Fortunato, the resolution to this conflict should have been as simple as confronting Fortunato with his hurt feelings. Instead, Montresor decides “[he] would be avenged” (Poe 543). Because of the dramatic way Montresor decides to resolve the conflict between himself and his friend, his character is shifted towards an unruly one. Montresor has no regards for those around him, he has no insight to anyone but himself. As a result of the way he chooses to resolve conflicts, he allows the conflicts to take control of his every action.

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1176 Words | 5 Pages

The narrator learns that Fortunato had laughed at his proud name, Montresor, the name of an honored family of many generations. In providing rationale for his revenge , Montresor emphasizes, “The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as best I could, but when he ventured upon insult I vowed revenge” (Poe 87). Montresor’s statement shows that he wants “revenge” because of his “thousand injuries” which lead him to protect his family's honor, increasing his rank on the social pyramid. This quote recommends that Montresor believes that Fortunato recognized what he was gambling, however insulted him in any case.

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672 Words | 3 Pages

He got Fortunato drunk, (Montresor states this when he says "Drink," I said, presenting him the wine”), then lured him into the catacombs to where he was going to trap him, leaving him there to starve. In conclusion, Montresor should be sentenced to death because he committed a severe crime that hurt a family and friends. There is no other ruly way to punish him rather than killing him. He should receive capital punishment and he should not be allowed to live, because then there is no for sure way to tell if he will murder another person or

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237 Words | 1 Pages

Montresor is a grudge holder. In the beginning, Montresor, explains why he is angry with Fortunato, but didn’t come into detail of what he did to him. Evidently, Fortunato injured and insulted Montresor, who says that he has endured peacefully as Fortunato repeatedly offended him thousands of time. Fifty year ago, Fortunato use to deny what Montresor would say about, who he was or what he had done, as if it was untrue. Montresor would argue back and forth with him explaining that it was true.

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323 Words | 2 Pages

Montresor told Fortunato that he is a “rich, respected, admired, beloved” (86) man. He does not actually think that. When he says he “must not only punish” (83) Fortunato, but he must “punish [him] with impunity” (83), which he does. The first step in Montresor's plan is to get Fortunato to go in the catacombs. He says to Fortunato, “Come, we will go back, your health is precious” (86).

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