For ages, people have speculated what lies within someone. Some people think that all that lies within a person is good and love, others think evil and hate. No matter how much a person tries to push the evil and hate out of their life, it always remains. In The Lottery by
Shirley Jackson, The Veldt by Ray Bradbury, and The Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allen Poe, the evil in the characters comes out. Throughout all three of the stories, the reader realizes that the characters have evil planted deep within them. Because humans are typically good natured creatures, no one ever stops to think about the darkness that lies within a person’s heart which can be seen in the refusal to change tradition, protecting one’s pride, and doing whatever
possible
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Technology is one of the things that has been part of their lives since birth and they are too dependent upon it.
Pride is a very big thing for certain people. They will protect it at all costs and make sure everyone knows of it. In The Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allen Poe, the whole story is based on Montresor's hatred for Fortunato because he had made fun of his family name by saying, “The thousands of injuries of Fortunato I had borne as best I could, but when he ventured upon insult I vowed revenge” (Poe 1). Not only did he want to make Fortunato pay, but he wanted him to realize why and who was making him pay for insulting his family name. Montressor would go as far as killing someone to protect him and his family's pride. When Fortunato poked fun at him and his family, Montresor retaliated by plotting to kill him. Montresor thought of Fortunato as a threat to his family’s reputation which is why he reacted the way that he did. Pride is a value that people treasure more than anything. The Lottery shows the protectiveness of pride but in an understated way. When the whole Hutchison family is drawing the slips of paper, and Tessie
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On the other hand, some people will endure whatever they deem necessary to protect whatever plan they might have. In The Cask of Amontillado, Montresor was obsessed with taking down Fortunato. Montresor was very pleasant and kind whenever he was around Fortunato so he would trust him. Montresor even says, “It must be understood that neither by word nor deed had
I given Fortunato cause to doubt my good will. I continued, as was my in to smile in his face and he did not perceive that my smile now was at the thought of his immolation.” (Poe 1). Once again, Montresor is not afraid to endure and do whatever he has to do to make sure that his plan is carried out flawlessly. Montresor is willing to be around a man whom he despises just so when he kills him, it will be perfect.
Because most people believe humans to be good natured creatures, no one ever thinks about the darkness that lies within a person's heart, which can be seen in people's refusal to change tradition, protecting and making one’s pride known, and the way that people will do whatever they feel necessary to protect the things that they love or are obsessed with, proves that the dark side of human nature is rooted deeply within a person no matter how hard they try
Montresor, fifty years after it happened, confesses to the murder of his foe, Fortunato. He justifies his actions by saying that Fortunato caused him a thousand injuries and therefore is seeking revenge.... ... middle of paper ... ... He tempts her by offering to give her independence from them, saying he is her lover, playing into her weakness of men.
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
When he does Montresor tries to be firm in his conviction of revenge, notwithstanding reacting briefly to Fortunato’s desperation, “I hesitated—I trembled” (Poe). After a
Hoping to obtain revenge, Montresor, the narrator, lures Fortunato, one of his friends, into the depths of his catacombs to be murdered. Montresor says, "The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as best I could, but when he ventured upon insult I vowed revenge"(149). This is the first line in the story, and this is why Montresor seeks revenge. There is no explanation of the insults that Montresor received, so the reader may infer that Montresor is just lying. The insults that were received could possibly be just outdoing in the business arena. Montresor might be using that excuse for his desire to kill Fortunato, because he may be killing Fortunato out of jealousy. Montresor is likely telling this story to a family member, friend, or his doctor while lying on his deathbed. Montresor says, "…your health is precious. You are rich, respected, admired, beloved; you are happy, as once I was. You are a man to be missed. For me it is no matter."(150). Montresor just admitted that he knows Fortunato is better than he. Montresor may have been under the influence of jealousy. Redd 4 There are different theories to ...
Pride is a powerful thing. In some cases it can be seen as a good or bad thing. If the person yields their wrong doing does not necessarily make his or her pride “the only crime,” but the outcome of it as well. Society sees goodness of other by his or her actions, but can be blinded by what others tell them and believing them knowing what they know.
Montresor’s anger was probably sensed in the carnival by the people surrounding him and even if the carnival was meant to celebrate and enjoy a good time. There was no way Montresor would forgive and forget Fortunato.
Montresor had had enough and was going to finally get revenge on Fortunato. The problem with planning out his revenge was that he had to make sure that he did so without getting caught. It is clear that Montresor has rolling around this idea within his head for quite some time. The fact he says that he must punish him with worrying about being caught shows that he knows it is immoral to kill another man. Alas, as stated before whatever offense dealt was the straw that broke the camel’s
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.
At the beginning of the story Montressor says, “The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult I vowed revenge”(Poe 108). This means that Fortunato had said something that insulted him and Montressor’s pride is driving him to feel the need not to retaliate immediately but to plan out a revenge that will ultimately lead to him killing Fortunato. It is not told in the story what Fortunato said to insult Montressor in order for him to justify his revenge against Fortunato. Instead of Montressor simply forgiving Fortunato for what he said he decided to take the easier route and sought out his revenge. As Author Ellis Cose said, “[Revenge] is so...
In the beginning of the story, Montresor appears to be vindictive within the first paragraph. Fortunato insults Montresor by doing something that remains unidentified. Montresor states he “must not only punish, but punish with impunity.” Montresor feels he must do this because he wants to be done with Fortunato and his insults. He also feels that he must live up to his family motto, “Nemo me impune lacessit,” which means, “Nobody attacks me with without punishment.” Because Montresor is single-minded, he is able to plan his scheme so thoughtfully that he knows there is no chance of getting caught. Montresor’s need for revenge continues throughout the story. When Montresor says, “Then I must positively leave you,” he is showing that there is no turning back. Fortunato is stuck indefinitely. Montresor shows that he is not remorseful by his actions while he is walling in Fortunato. “The noise [vibrations of the chain Fortunato is locked in] lasted for several minutes, during which, that I might harken to it with more satisfaction, I ceased my labors and sat upon the bones.” M...
Poe, Edgar Allan. "A Cask of Amontillado." Literature: Reading, Reacting, Writing. Ed. Laurie G. Kirszner and Stephen R. Mandell. Orlando: Harcourt, 1997. 209-14.
The thoughts and feelings of Montresor lead the reader to conclude that he is not successful at revenge. Montresor says in telling his story, "You, who so well know the nature of my soul, will not suppose, however that I gave utterance to a threat" (153). By communicating in this way, the question arises of who Montresor is actually speaking to, and why he is telling this story fifty years later. One can only conclude that it is for one of two reasons: he is either bragging or finally giving confession. As he tells the story, it becomes obvious that he has not yet filled his need to win, and now a half of a century later, is still struggling with his conscience. As Gregory Jay s...
The first indirect factor that could contribute to Montresor’s vengeful act, and thus the story’s theme of revenge, is the character of Montresor. Montresor tends to harbor feelings of resentment and has a hard time not taking things out of context (Womack). He also plans the murder of Fortunato in advance and devises it in such a way that he will not be caught. In killing Fortunato, Montreso...
The story begins with, “The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult, I vowed revenge.” Montresor cites what must have been in his mind, the ultimate betrayal imaginable, at least in his mind. A betrayal that
One reason Fortunato was an easy target for Montresor was that he was foolish. Fortunato and Montresor are on their way to the Amontillado. "In niche, and finding an instant he had reached the extremity of the niche, and finding his progress arrested by the rock, stood stupidly bewildered" (p. 3 li. 55-60). This shows that Fortunato was foolish