The Character of Montresor in The Cask of Amontillado

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When looked at for the first time, Montresor in Edgar Allan Poe’s The Cask of Amontillado may seem disturbing. Montresor has plans to murder a man, Fortunato, for insulting him and plans on doing so by walling him up in the catacombs under his home. Montresor devises a clever plan that will leave Fortunato clueless as to his intensions. Upon a closer look, this character is admirable. Montresor carries out his plan successfully without being caught. He does this by using traits that are commendable at the very least. Montresor is Poe’s most admirable character because he is patient, extremely confident, and very calculated.

Montresor is admirable because throughout the story, he is very patient. In the beginning of the story, he tells of how he will get his revenge over time. He says, “At length I would be avenged…” (1442). Through all of the time that he waits to enforce his plan upon the unsuspecting Fortunato, he “neither by word nor deed had I given Fortunato cause to doubt my good will” (1442). He even smiles at Fortunato when he sees him. This smile is not one of happiness but of a smile at the thought of Fortunato’s death. Montresor does not approach Fortunato in efforts to persuade him to fall into the trap that he has set for him. He wants to make himself felt when he has completed his revenge, and to do this he has to wait for the moment when Fortunato feels comfortable going with him to a place out of the site of by passers. Montresor waits and finall...

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