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The Unreliable Narrator In The Tell-Tale Heart By Edgar Allan Poe

384 Words2 Pages

The narrator in Edgar Allan Poe's short story ''The Tell-Tale Heart'' is unable to distinguish the difference between his hallucinations and reality. As a result, he is appropriately characterized as an unreliable narrator. Paul exhibits suicidal behavior that a caring adult might have recognized and remedied had that adult had the scientific knowledge we have today. And the story is conventionally read as a moralizing story about guilt and innocence. Montreser is not supposed to be trusted because of the plans and revenge he had for Fortunato. Hey, my friend" he said to Fortunato. Montreser told Fortunato about his place and that he had good wine so his plan goes well. Fortunato said let us go. even though he was sick. Then Montreser said …show more content…

And Montreser continued to smile to his face. But what Fortunato did not know was that the smile now was at the thought of Montreser's immolation. Then Montreser said “My dear Fortunato, you are likely met. How remarkably well you are looking today! Then Montreser said something about Amontillado. Some kind of wine that Fortunato likes. Then Fortunato said Amontillado! Let us go then said Fortunato. I have my doubts said Montreser. Montreser acted like a good friend to get the attention of the fortunate. When the party was going Montreser and Fortunato went to Montresers place and went down some stairs to the basement where the Amontillado was. when they got there Montreser said to Fortunato go and put your hand in and you will feel the Amontillado. And Fortunato went and did as he was told. And as soon as he did that Montreser pushed him and made him fall into a dark place. Then Fortunato started laughing thinking it was all a joke but when Fortunato heard that Montrose was not laughing he started getting mad and shouted at him. Then Montreser got mad too so he did the same and when he did Fortunato started crying and told him to help him and get him out of there but Montreser did not care and started covering up with a stone.

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Montressor reveals that he never did anything to cause Fortunato doubt of his good-will. He smiled in Fortunato's face because he was thinking of Fortunato's immolation or fate. "I must not only punish, but punish with impunity." (Montressor; Cask of Amontillado) Montressor says that quote

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1176 Words | 5 Pages

This attitude of Montresor showcases how little remorse he feels for Fortunato. He takes pleasure in the deception, knowing Fortunato remains oblivious to his sinister motives. This showcases the little guilt Montresor feels for taking advantage of Fortunato. He feels that everything he does is justified based on the actions of Fortunato earlier. Montresor also defends his actions by emphasizing that Fortunato seems to be a fool.

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210 Words | 1 Pages

Montressor gains Fortunato's trust by constantly poking at him about his safety. "We will go back; your health is precious, " shows how Montressor pretends to care for him to gain his trust.   Fortunato is an easily fooled person which is why he had no second thoughts when Montressor said there was a pipe of Amontillado in the catacombs. His trust

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1239 Words | 5 Pages

Montresor tortures Fortunato, both physiologically and physically. Montresor clearly gives Fortunato “multiple chances to escape his fate” (Delany 34), as he gives Fortunato obvious clues to his true intensions. These include leading Fortunato into a place for the dead, telling Fortunato not to go due to his severe cough that made it “impossible to reply” (Poe 5) at times, reminding Fortunato of his family arms, mentioning Luchesi, and showing Fortunato a trowel. Montresor seems to receive morbid joy out of the fact that Fortunato is so intoxicated that, just like the foot on Montresor’s coat of arms, he is unintentionally “stepping into his own destruction” (Cervo

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2469 Words | 10 Pages

Montresor asks Fortunato to use his expert wine test tasting skills to tell if a bottle of wine is authentic or not. Since Fortunato is an arrogant person, he does not suspect or have any suspicion to his ‘friends’ request. Once Montresor and Fortunato make their way down deep into the catacombs, Montresor tricks Fortunato into a corner. Then, Montresor handcuffs Fortunato to the wall. Fortunato is fasten to the wall with no escape.

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517 Words | 3 Pages

The story begins with Montresor walking with someone (possibly a priest) in the catacombs, and then he begins to tell the story of his friend’s death. We then begin the flashback on how they men ran into each other the night of the carnival. This story uses a lot of foreshadowing, and irony while discussing the details on Fortunato's death. Before they enter

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914 Words | 4 Pages

Where is this special wine you speak of?” “It’s a bit of ways from here, just follow me. And I promise it is well worth the wait.” “Here we are Fortunato, in these underground catacombs are the special wine. Just follow me.”

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1005 Words | 5 Pages

In the Cask of Amontillado, Fortunato doesn't see his death coming because he was drunk and was too weak to defend himself. Montresor offers more wine so he could get drunker and be weaker. The evidence is stated in the text as “ Drink” I said, presenting him wine. He raised to his lips with the leer.” ( Page 61).

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1088 Words | 5 Pages

The narrator explains that Fortunato prides himself on his connoisseurship in wine. Later in the story the narrator asks Fortunato to come over to his house to taste the Amontillado that he has recently purchased. The narrator states, “ He prided himself on his connoisseurship in wine. In painting and gemmary, Fortunato, like his countrymen, was a quack- but in the matter of old wines he was sincere. ”(2)

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1054 Words | 5 Pages

The quote shows the author's details create a shocking mood in the readers because he describes a detailed image the helps the reader envision what is going on. This action takes the audience by surprise because they know Montresor is getting revenge, but they aren’t told what it will be so they are as clueless as Fortunato. Montresor threw a torch in the niche where he tied Fortunato up and he finished closing up the wall, killing a man who considered him a friend. “I thrust a torch to the remaining aperture and let it fall within… I force the last stone into position; I plastered it up.” (pg7)

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456 Words | 2 Pages

Montresor not only crazy, but smart created a plan that he would soon initiate. He first starts compliementing Fortunato then finds himself asking for a favor. I said to him “My dear Fortunato, you are luckily met. How remarkable well you are looking today, but I have received a pipe of what passes for Amontillado, and I have my doubts.” After this was said

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590 Words | 3 Pages

Montresor had to plan how he was going to get Fortunato into the catacombs without him being suspicious of anything. It was carnival time so Montresor used the party animal nature of his friend against him. " He had a weak point - this Fortunato - although in other regards he was a man to be respected or even feared" (p.1, 22-24). Montresor used Fortunato's love for wine to entice him into his trap. Montresor knew that if he asked Fortunato to help him decide if the wine really was Amontillado, but then saying that he could find someone else to help would make Fortunato aggravated because he prided himself so highly in his wine tasting abilities.

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237 Words | 1 Pages

Like when they were going to the catacomb, Fortunato didn’t believe that Montresor was a “Mason” and when Montresor said that was Amontillado he gave Fortunato to drink. Fortunato deny that it was and said to him it tasted like Sherry. Montresor wanted

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597 Words | 3 Pages

At the carnival he informs Fortunato that he has a pipe of Amontillado, and he has his doubts. Then, using reverse psychology, he says he can see that Fortunato is engaged in something, and he will turn to Luchresi for connoisseur services. This makes Fortunato’s desire to taste the wine even deeper. Fortunato refuses and insists he taste the wine, completing step one in Montresor’s master plan. Then Montresor manipulates him a second time, says it’s not the engagement, but the severe cold Fortunato has.

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323 Words | 2 Pages

All he could think about was the amazing Amontillado. Montresor traps Fortunato and feels guilty. Fortunato started saying how he has a family and places to go back

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