Theme Of Insanity In The Cask Of Amontillado

Edgar Allan Poe is an author known for his gothic works and how different they were for his time. His works were groundbreaking, and he contributed a great amount to the science fiction and gothic genres. Although, Poe was known for the supernatural elements in his works there was another theme that was used in moderately throughout his stories. The theme of insanity. There’s a handful of Poe’s works that showcase this theme of insanity, where the narrator is not all there and quite unhinged. In the beginning of the 19th century, not much was known on how to treat the mentally ill or even if someone was suffering from mental illness. As time went on it was brought to attention that people who suffered from mental illnesses needed help and rehabilitation. Although, the treatments for mental illness were questionable in their effectiveness. Research says, “Treatment, if provided,

The narrator is smart, cunning and put together. The crime he commits is premeditated and thought out so well that it’s disturbing. He plans to bury a man who wronged him in his catacombs. The narrator shows a piece of his insanity in this line, “I continued, as was my in to smile in his face, and he did not perceive that my to smile now was at the thought of his immolation”. He is smiling at the thought of what is going to happen to Fortunato. This is a clear sign of how unstable he is because perfectly fine and happy with having this man die in his catacombs over being insulted. Research says “Immune to Fortunato's terrified screams, he even matches those wails himself at one point and brandishes his sword; such bizarre behavior evidences his mental instability” (Howes no page). He mocks Fortunato after Fortunato starts panicking when he realizes what happening to him. He even calls out to Fortunato when he finishes putting up the wall almost mocking him knowing the Fortunato won’t answer