ipl-logo

The Cask Of Amontillado: Similarities Between Pride And Vengeance

842 Words4 Pages

Kenneth Conner
Mr. Edwards
English 112
5 May 2023
Pride and Vengeance
The Cask of Amontillado is a gothic short story by Edgar Allan Poe during the early nineteenth century. The twisted and vindictive Montresor narrates the tale as he explains how he buried a man by the name of Fortunato alive in his catacombs. Like many of Poe's short stories, The Cask of Amontillado has several underlying themes exposing the evils of the human psyche. The concept that pride and vengeance lead to man's downfall is present in several aspects of The Cask of Amontillado, such as the setting and the characterization of Montresor and Fortunato. Edgar Allan Poe gives few details regarding the story's setting. Montresor reveals that the story takes place somewhere in Italy during the Carnival festival. The significance of the story taking place during Carnival is that the holiday is a time of overindulgence and disregard for one's safety. Poe gives the story's location; however, he does not share precisely when the story takes place. While walking through the crypt, Montresor claims that "Its walls had been lined with human remains, piled to the vault overhead, in the fashion of the great catacombs of Paris" (Poe 176). This reference to the Paris Catacombs, established during the late 18th century, suggests …show more content…

Montresor's pride and thirst for vengeance led to his dissent into burying a person alive over a discretion that most likely did not happen. On the other hand, Fortunato is blinded by his pride and allows himself to be manipulated into getting drunk and chained to the wall, where he would die of either thirst or asphyxiation. Poe uses this horrifying story to show how a person's pride and vengeance can turn someone to homicide or cloud the judgment of their

Show More
Related
487 Words | 2 Pages

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.

Read More
750 Words | 3 Pages

Edgar Allan Poe is one of the best at writing stories in a dark or creepy way. The mood of Poe’s short story, “The Cask of Amontillado”, is suspense. He creates this suspense by the use of the setting, foreshadowing, and Montresor’s character throughout the book. Poe makes the catacombs dark and creepy which makes the setting help provoke the suspense of the story. Poe also creates foreshadowing throughout the book which creates tension in the story.

Read More
604 Words | 3 Pages

“The Cask of Amontillado”, a Gothic short story by Edgar Allan Poe, was published in New York in 1846. As the story opens, Montresor and Fortunato attend the festive Carnival night in Italy. Unfortunately, Montresor plans to kill Fortunato. Shortly after, they progress into the dark, niter-ridden catacombs to the Amontillado. As they pass through the catacombs, Montresor intoxicates Fortunato, later trapping him in a recession.

Read More
586 Words | 3 Pages

“The Cask of Amontillado” is a short story written by Edgar Allan Poe. In The Cask of Amontillado one of the main characters named Montressor wanted to get revenge on Fortunado, another main character. Montresor wanted revenge on Fortunado because Fortunado hurt him in 1,000 ways. Montresor leads Fortunado down into the catacombs so he can make his revenge final, which is killing him. When Fortunado gets down there, Montressor walls him up and Fortunado dies.

Read More
665 Words | 3 Pages

At the beginning of the story the narrator chooses the setting of Carnival. When one thinks of the carnival, the thought of joyful people, celebration and social interaction comes to mind. No one would have thought that that was the precise moment for Montresor to take revenge. The name of Fortunato itself is ironic, because the name of Fortunato means fortune in Italy. When Montresor reveals the audience that he “had fettered [Fortunato] to the granite”, the scene sends chills throughout the reader’s body (Poe 471).

Read More
779 Words | 4 Pages

In the other story, “The Cask of Amontillado,” Montresor plots revenge on Fortunato by taking him into the catacombs while he is drunk, to later turn on him and kill

Read More
97 Words | 1 Pages

In “The Cask of Amontillado”, Edgar Allan Poe displays the theme of revenge and manipulation. The narrator Montresor pledges revenge on Fortunato for an insult that is never explained. He maintains an appearance of goodwill towards Fortunato and decides to make use of Fortunato's weakness for fine wines against him. During the carnival season, the narrator approaches Fortunato, telling him that he has come across something that could pass for Amontillado a rare and expensive wine. Fortunato being excited about the news insists on accompanying Montresor to the vaults to determine whether it is Amontillado or not.

Read More
653 Words | 3 Pages

As Montresor takes his unsuspecting victim into the depths of his crypt, he has revenge in mind. Edgar Allen Poe is known for his frightening tales which use description as their main weapon. In “The Cask of Amontillado” he creates an unforgiving main character (Montresor) who seeks revenge against a man who has abused him. The narration, surroundings, and the twisted plot creates a spectacular, horrifying tale.

Read More
690 Words | 3 Pages

Everybody will eventually want revenge on an old friend or just someone they know. Montressor, similar to many people in the world, wants revenge on one of his old friends, Fortunato. The story opens with, “The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as best I could; but when he ventured upon insult, I vowed revenge” (Poe 212). In this statement, Montressor tells the reader what the cause of his revenge against Fortunato is. “The Cask of Amontillado”, written by Edgar Allen Poe, tells the story of how Montressor brings Fortunato into the catacombs to bury him alive.

Read More
1054 Words | 5 Pages

The fictional short story “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe takes place in the catacombs of Montresor’s palace, during the carnival’s climax. The story begins when Montresor, the villain of the story, vows revenge on Fortunato. Throughout the story, the author doesn't tell us what the revenge will be, but his choice of words in the details creates a mood in the reader. The author’s detailed description in the short story creates different moods in the reader like anger, satisfaction, curiosity, and victory because the chosen words connect with the audience.

Read More
491 Words | 2 Pages

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.

Read More
1405 Words | 6 Pages

Fortunato is a fun loving character who is able to live life almost carefreely. However, Fortunato is also full of ignorance in regards to his current position with Montresor, especially when he is drunk. Due to his persistent ignorance and pride, Fortunato fails to see any danger or harm that he faces; instead, he only sees the hope of tasting a rare wine despite the obvious signs to the contrary. He misses his chances to turn back and his chances to escape, instead, Fortunato invests himself fully in the venture. By the time he realizes his ignorance, Fortunato finds himself chained to a wall while another one is being built in front of him.

Read More
1822 Words | 8 Pages

(22) Poe creates a damp, dark, and terrifying setting. Before the climax, it’s easy to see the narrator is up to something nefarious. Poe meticulously describes Montresor burying Fortunato alive in the tomb: how he layers the tiers, and the “succession of loud and shrill screams” that come from Fortunato. (23) Even the obvious panic that Fortunato exhibits where he believes it’s all a joke: “Ha!

Read More
996 Words | 4 Pages

Edgar Allan Poe is most famous for the gothic themes he presents in his writings, this was no exception for Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado”. Several important ideas are brought up about the story’s central theme of revenge. These ideas can be broken down into 3 parts: the incentive, the extent, and the reaction of the person partaking in revenge. It is essential to consider these ideas while reading Poe’s story, in order to comprehend his views on revenge. It also provides the reader the ability to question their own views on revenge as well as compare it with Poe’s.

Read More
646 Words | 3 Pages

Poe uses many examples of symbolism within this story, for instance: the absurdity of the period during the festival, the true meaning of Montresor’s name, and what the Montresor family sigma means. The absolute lunacy of carnival season symbolizes the insanity of the storyteller’s mind. The setting of carnival gives the story its amazing nature; it is only undermined by the absurdity of Montresor’s thirst for retribution. Montresor’s name is French for my treasure. The “treasure” that the narrator holds is the knowledge of the most impeccable revenge.

Read More

More about The Cask Of Amontillado: Similarities Between Pride And Vengeance

Related Topics

Open Document