The Cask Of Amontillado By Edgar Allan Poe

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

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

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