“The Cask of Amontillado” is an ironic short story written by Edgar Allen Poe. Poe used symbolic irony to describe who his characters were, how they dressed, and the settings in which the events took place. In this short story symbolic irony was used to define how Montresor, one of the prominent characters, sought his way to redemption by repressing his friend Fortunato to his demise. Poe’s two prominent characters in “The Cask of Amontillado” was Montresor and Fortunato. Montresor, whose name means “to show fate,” is a man with a bitter heart seeking for revenge.
Poe was not insane! He was just a very sad man who expressed the hurt he felt through writing. Edgar Allan Poe was the best at creating suspense and mood by keeping you interested with intense descriptions. He did a wonderful job at appealing to the readers sense of imagery by describing the catacombs. In Cask Of Amontillado, he goes into great detail of the walls of the catacombs by saying, "The drops of moisture trickle among the bones."
Another example of usage of symbolism in this book would be Alcohol. Alcohol is used as a symbol to convey a deeper meaning. Alcohol in this novel symbolizes that many of the characters face problems and obstacles that are very difficult, but they don’t really face them head-on. They try to escape from their problems in many ways, and the main one is alcohol. The characters are having tough times in their lives, where they really don’t know what to do and how to handle their obstacles or setbacks to be happy.
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.
Sometimes symbolism is a way that the author can show messages through objects within the story. Symbolism can be used to prove points within the story or even represent a certain factor within the story. In Lord of the Flies by William Golding the conch takes a big part of symbolizing the health of the government. When the boys find the conch the book puts detail into the conch but later changes the color when the government becomes less healthy. Another big object that is used as symbolism is the fire.
These symbols make the readers look father than just the surface of these objects to fully understand the message the author is trying to get across. Symbolism helps this piece deliver a specific powerful message about the sins of everyone by using random objects or groups that represent a lot
How seriously do you take the reputation of your family name? If someone hurt that reputation, would you act in any possible way to fix it? In this story, we can see how far a man named Montresor goes to avenge his families stained name. The story is set in the 16th century at a carnival somewhere in Italy. Between two families, there was conflict because one family hurt another in a very bad way.
In “The Cask of Amontillado,” Edgar Allen Poe uses visual imagery to create suspense. At a crucial point in the story the main character Montresor says “my heart grew sick on account of the dampness of the catacombs.” Here Montresor is contemplating whether or not to “take out” Fortunato. While wandering through the catacombs Montresor intentionally gives Fortunato more wine so that he does not realize he is going further and further into the catacombs. When the reader hears him say “my heart grew sick” that raises the question of why, Montresor feels bad for Fortunato at this specific time in the story. The reader is found in suspense wondering what is going to happen next is Montresor going to kill Fortunato or not?
The reader’s experience of a piece of literature is affected by the mood of the work, or the feeling it instills in the reader. Authors apply various methods to help set a specific mood, including various sensory details, or imagery, as well as other descriptions. A common type of mood found in literature is an anxious, suspenseful mood.
It finally dawned on me as he walked under a street lamp. Walking down the street, right in front of me, was the familiar looking
The Amontillado: The Amontillado is a symbol of sin, specifically glutton. The Amontillado tempts Fortunato throughout the story, just like sin tempts people everyday. The Bells on Fortunato’s hat: The bells on Fortunato’s hat that jingle consistently throughout the tale symbolizes the passing of time as Fortunato and Montresor make their way deeper and deeper into the catacombs. The bells could also signify Fortunato’s approaching death, since bells were often used to signify someone dying in the past.
It had amazed me that the raven could speak so well Though its answer was stupid and a bit boring, Cause you have to admit no person alive now Has ever had such a crazy thing as this happen to them. Bird or beast sitting upon a statute placed over a door, A bird absurdly named "Nevermore. " But the raven, all up there lonely, said that simple one word only.
Betrayal; to deliver or expose to an enemy by treachery or disloyalty. (Dictionary) In our lives we may have been betrayed or have betrayed someone that ended in a way we didn’t expect or may have because we planned it. In “The Cask of Amontillado” Montressor is a betrayer and his experience is extremely similar to my experience with betrayal. Edgar Allan Poe wrote this story to bring out the theme of betrayal.
Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado” features a unique symbolism of the repression of homosexual desire and the damaging effects of a society that promotes such behavior. The short story details the process of imprisoning that which the narrator despises—both literally and metaphorically. Queer analytical lens brings the homoerotic undertones of the tale to light. Focusing predominantly on sexuality illuminates the metaphorical imprisonment and repression of the narrator’s homoerotic tendencies. The narrator suppresses his sexuality and displaces his hatred onto Fortunato due to societal pressures to stifle something considered taboo and heinous.
Another character of the story is Montresor he is also the narrator of the story. In the story, we have only his perspective, that Fortunato is the evil person and Montresor is an underprivileged person. However, Montresor is an intelligent character, invents the story of having a very fine and expensive wine, the Amontillado. The context helped Montresor a lot with his goal since they were in a celebration. Fortunato is a character who had constantly mocked Montresor.
