The Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allen Poe and A Rose for Emily by William Faulkner

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Rapist, murders, serial killers, and other such individuals are not generally seen to be the role models in society. This is due to the ability that most humans have in order to distinguish right from wrong. Though frowned upon by society, many times these people repeat their actions, not because they are able to enjoy their actions, but rather mental disorders impair them from understanding how horrible and drastic their actions really are.

Such people are considered to be out of the norm for they are unable to understand and comply with the universal rules and laws that society has laid. These people who usually exhibit peculiar behavior patterns, such as being antisocial, violent, and paranoid can be classified as psychotic individuals. Such individuals can inherit these traits other genetically or simply copy the behaviors they witnessed as children. Despite not having control over their genes, nor past, they are liable for the actions they commit whether voluntary or not.

In the stories “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allen Poe and “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner, both Montresor and Emily killed a man for reasons that are not specifically told by the authors. In both stories, the main characters can easily be classified as psychotic, from their disturbing behavior patterns and the actions committed by both individuals. ...

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...mer were poisoned in a way, one literally and one that was intoxicated to a borderline functioning state of being. Eventually both men die without understanding why they would be killed.

Still, both characters could easily be classified as mentally ill and full-fledged psychopaths. The simple fact that both felt that both Miss Emily and Montresor could not settle their problems with anything other than killing, only proves their level of insanity. Though past generations may have influenced either their idea of morality, they are the ones who had corrupted themselves without regret. Thus, the deaths of Homer and Fortunado were so much more unfortunate, for both would have had much potential left in life than that of the reclusive old woman and a cynical psychopath of an old man.

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