Use Of Symbols In Poe's The Cask Of Amontillado

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Recommended: Symbolism in modern poetry

Miranda Branco
November 21, 2015
ENL 258
Research paper

Cask of Amontillado Vengeance is a dish best served cold. As Montresor, from “the Cask of Amontillado” would approve. Poe’s use of symbols gives a clear view of the character’s emotions, and lets the reading into the shoes the characters. Poe is known for giving a horror trace to his stories and poems in a sense that it’s not direct, but the readers can pick up on. “The Cask of Amontillado”, would have to be one of the best works by Poe through depicting the writing style he is known for. In the story it is assumed that Fortunato and Montresor were once friends, however Montresor has some type of grudge towards Fortunato to where he plans
The mystery and undertone of this horror story …show more content…

To be successful and not get caught Montresor told his assistants "not to stir from the house" (218), so they could be alone. Alone and no bystanders. The murder was planned in Montresor family catacombs, during the festival of Carnival. Carnival was a place for people to socially drink. With Fortunato, a lover of wine, it was an easy setting for Montresor. Montresor set the trap and lured his victim with the Amontillado. Fortunato also insults Montresor’s ancestors buried in the catacombs. This is the point in the story where Poe gives his characteristic undertone of horror for the reader but not the actual characters themselves. He describes them walking through the bones of Montresor’s dead ancestors while also describing the scene to paint the picture in the heads of the reader, dark, horrifying, death …show more content…

A subtle detail in the story, but Montresor thinks that Fortunato is a fool. Creating an almost ignorance to Fortunato and the other party goers at the carnival. “There came forth in return only a jingling of the bells. My heart grew sick; it was the dampness of the catacombs that made it so” (The Cask 1263). On the other hand, the reader may think of the carnival in a whole and see that while a carnival is supposed to stand for a time of celebration and enjoyment, while Montresor was thinking of the opposite of happy carnival

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