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The Cask Of Amontillado By Edgar Allan Poe

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Literary Analysis Rough Draft Often people are tempted by revenge when wronged, this temptation can consume one’s self making all other thoughts shut down completely. Revenge is known to corrupt the mind with vile and destructive thoughts. The Cask of Amontillado written by Edgar Allen Po discusses a conflict between Montresor seeking revenge on Fortunato. The story mainly discusses Montresor's plan and process of ultimately killing Fortunato, caused by Fortunato’s insult prior to the story. In the short story Po displays a prominent theme using symbols and irony: revenge can take over the mind. Po uses the catacombs in the story to symbolize the theme: revenge takes over the mind. The catacombs Po describes to the reader display that Montresor …show more content…

As Montresor and Fortunato walk through the catacombs, Montresor describes what they are seeing. “We had passed through the walls of piled bones, with cask and puncheons intermingling” (348). The catacombs displayed by Po are clearly symbolizing the mind of Montresor. The short story is written in the first person, allowing the reader to get an insight into how Montresors mind works. As readers can see, Montresors mind has become very dark and morbid, directly correlating to how the catacombs are portrayed. Po uses the catacombs to show how Montresor has been consumed by revenge and darkness. Revenge and darkness are all Montresor is thinking about, clearly reflected in the dark and vengeful catacombs. As the story goes on, Po continues to hint at the catacombs as a major symbol. Po also alludes that the catacombs symbolize the cloud or trance that revenge has placed over Montresors mind. As Montresor delves further into the catacombs, he describes what he sees to the readers. “At the most remote end of the crypt…in which foulness of the air caused our …show more content…

The author's exclusion of the crime Fortunato has committed drives such theme. Po opens the story with Montresor stating, “The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could; but when he ventured upon insult, I vowed revenge” (344). The short dialogue displayed shows that Montresor was planning revenge on Fortunato ever since they met, and was only waiting for Fortunato to commit his crime. The fact that Montresors reason for revenge is not revealed shows that his state of mind is clouded, and it didn't matter what Fortunato did or didn't do. it only matters that Fortunato receives his punishment. Once Fortunato had committed his crime revenge was the only thing Montresor could see. Author Po continues to hint at the fact of revenge in taking over Montresor. Montresor's family crest is an example of Po once again insinuating this theme. Fortunato asks Montresor to remind him of his family arms and Montresor swiftly replies, “‘A huge human foot d’or, in a field azure; the foot crushes a serpent rampant whose fangs are imbedded in the heel’...’ Nemo me impune lacessit’” (347-348). The Montresor’s family arms mean that no one attacks them without punishment. The family crest shows how even before Montresors act of revenge, generations before him were consumed by the idea of revenge. They were tempted by revenge and they followed. The family crest could even show the history of madness

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That Montresor is losing sight of humanity, which Poe is utilizing throughout the story. “But when he ventured upon insult, I vowed revenge” (Poe 61). As you read it shows how focused Montresor is about revenge, that he will not stop until he gets his revenge on Fortunato. Montresor's satisfaction will only come from Fortunato's immense suffering.

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This is represented by, the way Montressor wants to punish Fortunato because of the hatred he has for him and his understanding of why Fortunato has treated him so poorly. Also the way Montressor makes it seem like revenge is the right and necessary thing to do to correct the wrong Fortunato has done to him. As well as, how Montressor ultimately manipulates Fortunato.

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•Montresor does fulfill this definition of revenge. He boasts about how it has been fifty years since his crime and nobody has “disturbed” the catacomb that he has enclosed Fortunato. Regarding the second part, it is questionable. The fact that he is still telling this story a half century later may suggest that he is obsessed (“overtaken”) with his crime. And the third part, he did make himself known to Fortunato because Fortunato cries “For the love of God, Montresor” as he is being enclosed in the catacomb wall.

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Damp, cold, and as dark as an abyss. The catacombs, an underground tunnel system, is a place featured in Edgar Allen Poe's short story The Cask of Amontillado. In The Cask of Amontillado, Poe develops the theme of trust through the characters Montressor and Fortunato.   Montressor is a character and the narrator of the story. He tells a story of his revenge on Fortunato fifty years in the past.

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The great Sigmund Frewd once said "Unexpected emotions will never die. They are buried alive and will co,e forth in unglued ways. " This quote signifies the idea of revenge in Edgar Allen Poe's "The Cask of Amontillado. " In the beginning of the story after many injuries from the arrogant Fortunato, Montressor sets out for revenge. Montressor finds Fortunato at a part they both attended and tricks him into going on a mission for wine.

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The mentioning of another character also communicates to the reader that someone else may play a role in Fortunato’s death, particularly someone who is not fond of him. Another example of foreshadowing within, “The Cask of Amontillado” occurs when Montresor and Fortunato are having a discussion about the Montresor coat of arms. Fortunato says, “And the motto?” to which Montresor then replies with, “Nemo me impune lacessit” (Poe 237). Through Fortunato’s inquiry the reader is able to learn that the Montresor family coat of arms is, “Nobody attacks me without punishment.” This foreshadows that Montresor definitely has his sights set on getting revenge and may also highlight the fact that Montresor is actually consumed by the desire for vengeance.

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In life, mostly everyone will want revenge on someone they know that did wrong to them. When Montressor wanted revenge, he went insane and planned to kill the person who did him wrong. In the real world, most people do not try to kill someone if they did them wrong. Montressor is insane because of the way he got revenge on Fortunato. Poe proves in this story that some people use different, harsher ways to get revenge on

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As the story progresses it becomes exceptionally evident the role external conflict plays in creating Montresor’s character. To begin, Montresor mentions “the thousand injuries of Fortunato” and the revenge he is determined to get from the most recent injury, an insult (Poe 543). By Montresor choosing to open the story with remarks about Fortunato’s wrong doings towards him, it’s clear that he holds a grudge. These conflicts between the two men throughout their friendship have had such an impression on Montresor that it’s over taken him – it’s all he can think about; thus, he immediately mentions these conflicts at the beginning of the story. In result, Montresor as a character appears quite hostile and as a narrator appears unreliable.

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In the beginning of the story the author's choice of words in the descriptions makes the reader feel angry. Montresor tried to ignore Fortunato and his insults, but they were

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The theme is made clear in this story from opening line. “The thousand injures of Fortunato I had borne as best I could; but when he ventured upon insult, I vowed revenge”(739). Montresor and Fortunato have a lengthy history, then an insult that goes too far enrages Montresor and he vows revenge. Montresor states, “I must not only punish, but punish with impunity” (739), implying that his revenge must be permanent, well thought out and Fortunato must feel the wrath from

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Montresor family seal means no one assails me with impunity meaning since he was insulted his goal was to get revenge to prove he was better. 6. He exposes him

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The sinister tone of Montresor’s narration creates a sense of suspense for what Montresor’s process of revenge entails and furthers the central idea by symbolizing the force behind one’s death as the result of alcoholism.

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The way the author and the narrator describe the catacombs like they do, makes the reader feel creeped out and maybe even scared. They describe the feeling of being down there in the dark, the way the bones of the dead lay and look like, and the overall feeling you would have if you walked through a catacomb deep underground. For example, the author uses the segment, “...for the passages had become more complex and tortuous than ever, with a perfect network of intersecting corridors…” to show how the

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In the beginning of the short story, Montresor defines revenge on his friend Fortunato for believing he has insulted him. Montresor has become angry that his friend is taking advantage of him and overlooking at him like a fool,

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Montresor’s family motto translates to: no one provokes me with impunity. Fortunato has insulted Montresor, which seals his fate in Montresor’s eyes. Once someone has insulted Montresor, that someone can expect punishment. The family motto confines Montresor’s mind into believing that Fortunato must be killed. Despite the lack of vindication for Fortunato, Montresor is bound to be affected negatively by the murder.

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