The Cask Of Amontillado By Edgar Allan Poe

Literary Analysis of Edgar Allen Poe’s “Cask of Amontillado”

Edgar Allan Poe, an author known for his Gothic literature, wrote the story “Cask of Amontillado” which featured the main protagonist Montresor. Montresor believes that his target, Fortunato, has insulted him and that he must perfect his vengeance. He accomplishes this task by offering him some Amontillado and persuading him to enter the catacombs. Fortunato realizes too late that he is trapped in the catacombs, and Montresor abandons him to rot and die. Due to the first person point of view, Poe’s literary work offers an insight into his desire for vengeance and the downfall of others with the utmost brilliance.

Throughout the story, its narration is done by Montresor and is told

The plot of “The Cask of Amontillado” is followed by a theme about vengeance and the darkness that lies within everyone. Poe’s reason for creating the plot of the story involves his revenge against others in his life that may have wronged him. This is because these behaviors are prevalent throughout the story, such as Montresor’s dark thoughts of murdering Fortunato. The author himself has dark thoughts about the downfall of others and filling them with deceit from his seemingly kind exterior. These thoughts are shown in the story, where Montresor exclaims “I continued, as was my wont, to smile in his face, and he did not perceive that my smile now was at the thought of his immolation” (82). In relation to the story’s theme, Poe has shown the readers that he strongly believes vengeance is necessary and possesses a strong desire for revenge towards others within his life. This could be due to the fact some authors during his time were in competition with him, and another author may have wronged him. The only way Edgar Allan Poe could soothe his need for revenge was through writing “The Cask of Amontillado” to contain his true