Foolish Fortunato

Have you ever foolishly led yourself into a dangerous situation that could have easily been avoided? This is exactly what happens to Fortunato in Edgar Allan Poe's short story "The Cask of Amontillado." The story begins with a narrator named Montresor explaining to the reader that he feels insulted by a man named Fortunato, and that he vows his revenge. Montresor lures Fortunato in by challenging his pride in his connoisseurship in fine wine. He tells Fortunato that he bought a cask of Amontillado and that he needs Fortunato's help to determine if the wine is indeed real. When the duo reach the bottom of the vaults, Montresor describes a niche indented into the wall just large enough for a person to fit. Montresor then chains Fortunato inside the niche then begins to build a wall to enclose him in. After Montresor completes the wall the story flashes forward 50 years to Montresor telling the reader that no one has disturbed Fortunato for half a century. Fortunato allows himself to die a horrific death because of his pride, his inability to withhold his tongue, and his foolishness.
Fortunato allows himself to be killed because of his pride. When Montresor is trying to lure in Fortunato he says, "I have received a pipe of what passes for Amontillado, and I have my doubts...and I was silly enough to pay the full Amontillado price without consulting you in the matter...As you are engaged, I am on my way to Luchesi." Then Fortunato says, "Luchesi cannot tell Amontillado from Sherry." Fortunato could have saved himself here had he not let his pride influence him. If he would have declined to go help Montresor, then he would not have been killed that night. He could not allow Montresor to believe that Luchesi was better th...

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...aybe if he was not drunk, he would not have gone with Montresor. Another example of Fortunato's foolishness is when he refused to return to the surface when he is coughing due to the niter on the walls. "Ugh! ugh! ugh! -- ugh! ugh! ugh! -- ugh! ugh! ugh! -- ugh! ugh! ugh! -- ugh! ugh! ugh! My poor friend found it impossible to reply for many minutes."It is nothing," he said, at last." Fortunato's body is telling him that bring in the catacombs is bad for his health. He foolishly ignores these signs and continues on. Maybe if Fortunato had not been so foolish he would survive Montresor's devious plans.
As one can clearly see Fortunato allows himself to die a horrific death. He foolishly let his pride get the best of him by not controlling his tongue. Fortunato could have easily avoided being killed by Montresor. He foolishly led himself into a deadly situation.