Montresor Perfect Crime

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The Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allan Poe
The book “Cask of Amontillado” chronicles what a perfect crime is. Giving an account of the events that transpired 50 years prior, Montresor, an aristocrat from Europe introduces the story by explaining how Fortunato a fellow aristocrat and wine connoisseur insulted him. Though it is not revealed how Fortunato insulted Montresor to make him want to kill him, it is evident that he really angered him. Montresor’s plan is not just to punish Fortunato but to bypass the punishment associated with the crime. Montresor exploits the pride that Fortunato has in his abilities to taste wine to lure him into the catacomb where he manages to send him to the afterlife. To highlight what a perfect crime constitutes, …show more content…

In the region of Palermo, Sicily in the event that an individual died him or her corpse were walled up in catacombs which are underground tombs. Six months following the disappearance of the flesh, the skeletons are considered ready for them to be displayed. The catacombs were lit brightly so that every skeleton could be viewed while holding a card that displayed the title and name of the dead (Eggleton). As for public officials that died in the region if Sicily, dead bodies were showcased on the chairs of church floor with officials fanning away the flies. In some other places, the bones of humans were laid down in boxes that are decorated for their relatives to view. Therefore, the long wall pilled with skeletons was not unusual in the 18th century of Europe (Eggleton). This historical concept has been used to highlight how smart Montresor was in planning his revenge and get rid of evidence that may lead to punishment from the crime committed (Poe, 5). By using the funeral processions of 18th century Europe, Montresor was able to bypass any punishments that may come from committing murder as someone could mistake the remains of Fortunato for those of a dead person that was buried in the tomb.
That said it is pertinent to assert that the author of “The Cask of Amontillado” has used carnival, freemason and 18th century burial custom aspects of history to outline what a perfect crime is. Carnival has been used to highlight how one can perfectly disguise a crime, freemason has been used to communicate the reason behind the crime and 18th century burial custom has outlined how to make the evidence of a perfect crime to go

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