“The Cask of Amontillado”
Revenge can be sweet, but in this case it is just down right grotesque! In Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado” it talks about a gentlemen named Montressor and how he is angry at Fortunato for insulting him in the past. Montressor will not let this go unpunished, so he thinks up a clever scheme to get back at him. This plan is in a way, ingenious but most definitely insane and crazy.
This story dates back into the 1800’s. The time of year, Mardi Gras. A good friend and fellow wine connoisseur, Fortunato, once insulted Montressor, the main character. Although the insult was not stated in the story it must have been pretty bad because of the revenge Montresor was planning. After a party Fortunato went over to Montressor’s house to have some wine and then go out to another party. There was something ironic about the way Fortunato was dressed. He was wearing motley, much like what a jester would wear and he would be made a fool later that evening. In the catacombs underneath the house is where they store all of their wine and some other things. In the very back of the musty, damp, and dark cellar was the best of the best wines, Amontillado.
Montressor used reverse phsycology very frequently in the story to lure Fortunato in and to lead the servants out. He told the servants that he would not be home for at least twelve hours. So of course, they left the house to go to parties. He also told Fortunato not to go down into the catacombs because he did not want him to get even sicker from the dampness down there. Of course, that made him want to go down to get the wine. Along the way they see lots of niter on the walls and they can feel the dampness from the river. They make many stops along the way in the vaults to drink fine vintages to make him a bit more intoxicated. Fortunato cannot even tell through his orbs that he has hurt his friend! As they get farther and farther away he keeps on suggesting for Fortunato to go upstairs and to get Luchesi to go to get the wine with him. Of course, Fortunato kept on saying he was fine. The farther they go, the more wine they drink. Montressor kept on making it seem as though he was not angry at Fortunato for anything he had done. Along the way there were bones, and bodies laying all around in recesses...
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...essor was fighting for his dignity and so he could once again be respected to all his fellow men and women.
Poe’s like had partly influenced this poem. His life was dark and sad. He had lost so much during his lifetime due to many diseases. In Poe’s mind he could have wanted to get revenge at somebody for making his life so tragic. Although, who would you set revenge on for something like this? The whole poem is not about his life. He never killed anybody or hurt anyone physically. He might have insulted people mentally but that might have been the extent of anything.
Montressor may seem to be insane, but he is a clever man that always served everyone right. He never let Fortunato go on about his ways and just forget about the insult. He wanted his pride back. He needed to show Fortunato how bad the insult had hurt Montressor’s dignity, and the perfect place for him to think about it was a little niche! Montressor was very smart and had a good plan to terminate Fortunato. The plan was very smart and some people would not even think of a plan like this. It was crazy, it was insane, it was grotesque, but it was so ingenious. Now, can anybody top that?
Montresor must trick and manipulate Fortunato to accomplish his goal of revenge. He tells Fortunato the reason he is at the ...
It is constantly seen that people take revenge on each other in the real world so it comes to no surprise that Montresor is taking revenge on Fortunato. Specifically in this story Montresor will feel better if he “not only punish but punish with impunity” (108 Poe). But further on what I found to even more realistic was that this wasn’t normal revenge, this was pure mastermind torture. Montresor knew that Fortunato was sick with Montresor saying “…but the severe cold with which I perceive you are afflicted”(109 Poe) regarding that he didn’t want Fortunato to come down to his vaults, but Montresor true intentions were wanting Fortunato to fight Montresor request of not coming, and it worked. Montresor also knew how well Fortunato was at differencing wine “I was silly enough to pay the full Amontillado price without consulting you in the matter” (109 Poe). By Montresor exploiting Fortunato’s sickness and skill of wines, Montresor knew that he could get Fortunato in the vaults where he could execute his revenge. At a first glance this may not seem lifelike because there’s an assumption to be made that people aren’t this immoral. But the truth is that the revenge that Montresor conducted is seen constantly in our culture. It’s undeniably real of the monstrosity that was made by Montresor when comparing it to the wicked
Montresor is a man who feels pride in himself and in his family, so when Fortunato—an acquaintance of Montresor— “venture[s] upon insult,” Montresor “vow[s] revenge” against him (1). Montresor hastily decides that he must kill Fortunato, even though his use of the word “venture” implies that Fortunato had not yet insulted him, but nearly did. Montresor’s impulsive need for revenge causes him to formulate a plan to murder his acquaintance. He keeps Fortunato intoxicated by “presenting him…[with] wine,” he “fetter[s] him to the granite,” and he “plaster[s] up… [a wall of] new masonry” to trap Fortunato in the catacombs (39, 71, 89). All of these acts are signs that the need for revenge has made Fortunato insane. A person who has any sense of morals would not commit crimes such as Montresor’s. His impetuous decision to exact revenge caused him to lose his
The Cask of Amontillado, written by Edgar Allan Poe, is a chilling story about two men named Fortunato and Montresor. The story begins with a narrator voicing his anger and resentment towards a man named Fortunato for “a thousand injuries” and insults. Our narrator sees Fortunato and lures him down into his vaults, or “catacombs,” on the premise of verifying that some wine is a certain type. Fortunato was already drunk, and had a cold. Eventually, the men reach a crypt, and the narrator chains Fortunato to the wall. Not stopping there, the narrator begins to trap him in the hole by filling it with bricks. Fortunato is quiet, until the hole is nearly filled, when he screams and then tells the narrator that it was a good joke. The narrator’s name is revealed to be Montresor. Montresor calmly takes the last brick and prepares to slide it into place, but stops and listens. All he hears are the jingling of bells. Then Montresor puts in the last brick, hence sealing Fotunato’s fate. There is chilling irony woven all throughout The Cask of Amontillado. It isn’t until the end of the story that we discover the tale took place fifty years before. Montresor’s vile deed’s motivation can be largely attributed to social class, fulfilling what he considered to be “just retribution” for the unnamed insult that was given him by Fortunato.
In Edger Allen Poe’s The Cask of Amontillado the narrator, Montresor, seeks revenge against his friend Fortunato who he claims had cause him many injuries. The story takes place during carnival time and many are celebrating even Fortunato who was dressed as a clown and wore a colorful hat with bells. Fortunato had been drinking which made him even less aware of any sort of plot against him. Montresor lures him into his wine vaults and easily chains him to a wall deep inside a small crypt. Fortunato is too drunk to even comprehend what is happening or even resist. Finally Montresor builds a stone wall confining Fortunato inside to die. In the story we can distinguish many notable characteristics of Montresor. He may be perceived as heatless or even bit psychotic. We can learn about his personality through his motives and actions as the story progresses.
When they are ready to go to the vaults, Montresor shows concern for Fortunato’s health. This I believe is a genuine concern. Montresor says “it is not the engagement, but the severe cold with which I perceive you afflicted” (142). It can be argued that Montresor is just making another move in his fatal game of revenge, but why would he care so much about Fortunato. When meeting Fortunato at the carnival Montresor says “I was so pleased to see him…”
Montressor waits to get revenge during the madness of the carnival, a time when it is likely neither will be missed from the festivities. When Montressor meets Fortunato in the palazzo, he tells of the Amontillado he has received, and that he has his doubts on the genuineness. Montressor knows that Fortunato is a wine connoisseur and will be intrigued at the thought of Amontillado being so near. Montressor tells Fortunato that since he is otherwise engaged in the ... ... middle of paper ... ...
He tells Fortunato that he has obtained a wine that could be Amontillado, but he does not invite Fortunato into his home. He knows Fortunato would never pass up an opportunity to test his intelligence knowledge of wine. By that way, Montresor can complete his plan without putting himself as responsible. He also uses a reverse psychology tactic on the servants in his home: “ I had told them that I should not return until the morning, and had given them explicit orders not to stir from the house… I well knew, to insure their immediate disappearance, one and all, as soon as my back was turned.” He does not want any risk of suspicion, instead of telling them flat out to take the night off, he says that he does not return until morning. Fortunato insists that they can go into vaults although he begins to cough from the niter coveting the walls. Montresor’s brilliant reverse psychology is the way he suggests Fortunato leave the vaults: “ We will go back, your heath is precious. You are rich, respected, admired, beloved.” He knows Fortunato will not turn back despite his
He did not show even by words that he is going to kill. Also, he did not let Fortunato to know that he intended any grudge against him “..neither by word nor deed had I given Fortunato cause to doubt my good will... He did not perceive that my smile now was at the thought of his immolation (8-10).” One night while Fortunato was drunk, Montresor told him that he bought a barrel of wine called Amontillado “But I have received a pipe of what passes for Amontillado, and I have my doubts (25).” He understood that Fortunato “prided himself on his connoisseurship in wine (12).” He attracted him to going to his house to check the drink by saying that he might invite Luchresi to do it, a seeming rival of Fortunato 's, instead “As you are engaged, I am on my way to Luchresi. If any one has a critical turn it is he. He will tell me (37-38).” When they left, Montresor put on a mask and quickly took the way to his property. He was sure nobody could see them together on Fortunato 's last night. Moreover, Montresor completely knew Fortunato and used the knowledge versus him. He planned his deed carefully and carried it out slowly. It seems that Montresor anticipated his revenge with joy. While they traveled down the cavern, Montresor gives Fortunato many opportunities to leave. Fortunato looks weak against the niter, which is growing on the walls, and repeatedly coughs. Montresor commented on Fortunato 's health and asked
Fortunato prided himself in being a connoisseur of fine wines. They were at a carnival and Fortunato approached Montressor at dusk, the madness of the carnival season. Fortunato was very drunk. Fortunato was dressed motley like a jester.
Carefully, cautiously the Montresor plotted precisely how he would exact revenge upon Fortunato. Much time and great energy was devoted to this plan, selecting a time that would be best: during carnival when the town would be celebratory, his servants apt to run off and join the celebration, when the two could silently disappear without notice or question. No detail is forgotten; he allows for no deterrents. He follows through with such a confidence that never does he stumble or hesitate in carrying out his plan. The Montresor indicates that he had never given. To continue with this ploy, he even goes so far as to express false concern for Fortunato as they pass through the catacombs. Blaming the nitre and damp, the Montresor suggests that they turn back as not to compromise Fortunato’s ill health, though he has no intent of doing so. Never once until the very end did Fortunato have cause to suspect that there were any foul plans afoot.
While at the carnival, Montresor bought some of the finest Amontillado wine to use in his vengeful plan to murder Fortunato. He then meets his "friend," Fortunato. Fortunato is wearing "a tight fitting parti-striped dress and head is surmounted by the conical cap and bells" (Poe 528). By him wearing this outfit, makes it great for the narrator because he is going to make a fool out of Fortunato. Montresor is a manipulative person. He challenges Fortunato's connoisseurship on wine tasting and leads him to his family estate.
In Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado,” Montresor sets out on a vengeful mission that will end Fortunato’s life in an untimely fate. Montresor appeals to Fortunato’s love for wine to tempt the unsuspecting fellow to his impending doom. While Montresor tricks the foolish Fortunato frightfully, it is ultimately Fortunato’s pride that leads to his demise in the crypt. Poe uses several literary devices to foreshadow this murderous exploit of Montresor. Through the use of irony, symbolism, and imagery, the story entices readers to delve into the relationships and differences between Montresor and Fortunato.
Fortunato is depicted from the outset of the tale as arrogant and egotistical. Montressor begins his narration by saying, "The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as best I could, but when he ventured upon insult I vowed revenge" (240). Though the exact nature of the insult is not made known, there are numerous examples of subtle slights by Fortunato throughout the narrative. Perhaps Fortunato is unaware that his comments are frequently demeaning but his remarks make him seem arrogant and uncaring. Early in the story, he indicates his belief that Montressor is not a true connoiss...
... in an unnamed European city. The location quickly changes from the lighthearted activities associated with such a festival to the damp, dark catacombs. This helps to establish the sinister atmosphere of the story. It seems like all the settings are well prepared for Montresor’s revenge. There are bones and catacombs, and of course the Amontillado. We can tell the strong purpose of Montresor. We can even tell the author’s purpose from this story. The whole story is kind of twisted.