The Ultimate Revenge in “The Cask of Amontillado”
Edgar Allen Poe’s twisted nature is well represented in the unique writing style of “The Cask of Amontillado”. This short story takes the reader into the mind of a vengeful murderer who seeks the ultimate revenge. Throughout the writing, Poe combines emotion and imagery to impact to the reader. The construction of this dark and sinister work is manipulated by Poe by using the theme, point of view and tone.
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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There is beauty in his description of the crypt and the arrangements of bones which resemble the catacombs in Paris. Poe also adds a sense of humor to Montresor’s tone when he is describing how he managed to get his servants out of his house. This further engages the reader into making them believe that maybe Montresor isn’t completely demented and has the humor of an average and fair-minded individual, but this is far from the truth.
Overall, it may be said that “The Cask of Amontillado” is a dark and horrifying story that is beautifully told through the creative writing style of Edgar Allen Poe. All elements come together to tell the confession of the vengeful psychopath Montresor and his bragging of a hideous premeditated murder that he committed 50 years ago. Through the theme, point of view and tone of the story the reader is taken into the mind of this vicious killer. It shows the revenge that Montresor sought after and accomplished brought him