Batuhan Şen
Lect. Esen Kara
ENG113
18 November 2015
Symbolism in ‘The Cask of Amontillado’
Poe is a romantic gothic writer. In his stories he deals with horror, madness and dreams. As a common romantic period element, symbolism is a recurrent technique in Poe’s stories. Symbolism means representing abstract ideas or concepts using objects, characters, figures or even colors. The Whirlpool in ‘MS. Found in a Bottle’, Eyes in ‘The Tell Tale Heart’ and many other stories by Poe uses symbolism to represent something else, something ‘abstract’. “The Cask of Amontillado” tells the story of a man who takes revenge from his foe, by tricking him into his catacombs, then burying him which can be described as “The Perfect Crime”. In this paper, we …show more content…
Just under the celebratory carnival streets, there are catacombs, dark, narrow and eerie. Similarly, Montresor is a respected, noble man in society, but he also has evil and dark personality, which cannot be seen from the outside but waiting to be discovered. Also, Montresor uses the carnival time as an opportunity. Carnival season is a time for feast and celebration, when people have the freedom to do things which they may not do during other times. Baraban states that “During carnival, identities are destabilized and traditional social hierarchy and etiquette collapse; the poor may be elected carnival kings, bishops, and popes, whereas representatives of the upper classes may disguise themselves as peasants, servants, or fools” (9). That is why Fortunato agrees to go so deep into the catacombs with Montresor. As they go deeper into the catacomb, Montresor and Fortunato move into smaller and smaller spaces. This suggests that, as they travel away from the fresh air, they are also moving away from freedom. At the end of the story, Fortunato finds himself chained in a man-sized crypt with no air and no way out, he is anything but …show more content…
Every dialog between Fortunato and the narrator can be viewed as an example of irony, as if Montresor is making fun of him, calling him “friend”. Very first words that Montresor tells Fortunato, which they are “My dear Fortunato, you are luckily met. How remarkably well you are looking today!” Fortunato believes that Montresor is happy to see him because of his expertise on wine. But what Montresor means is the meeting is lucky because carnival time sets perfect time for his revenge. According to Nevi, “It might almost be said that all the story’s dialogue is ironic. A case might also be made for the idea that the story concludes only when irony is no longer possible, that is, only when Fortunato becomes “initiated” or aware of all that is happening” (3). This quote shows that the only time ironic dialogue stops is when Fortunato finds himself chained up on the wall with no way out, and becomes aware of what’s happening. Narrator also voices his concerns about Fortunato’s health several times, which he tells “Come, I said, with decision, we will go back; your health is precious”. Both narrator and the reader knows Montresor’s murder plan that awaits Fortunato when he goes with him into his catacombs, but Fortunato does not suspect such an act. Ironically, Montresor acts as if he is concerned about Fortunato’s health, which clearly understandable that he isn’t. The only one who doesn’t aware of what waits
Lect. Esen Kara
ENG113
18 November 2015
Symbolism in ‘The Cask of Amontillado’
Poe is a romantic gothic writer. In his stories he deals with horror, madness and dreams. As a common romantic period element, symbolism is a recurrent technique in Poe’s stories. Symbolism means representing abstract ideas or concepts using objects, characters, figures or even colors. The Whirlpool in ‘MS. Found in a Bottle’, Eyes in ‘The Tell Tale Heart’ and many other stories by Poe uses symbolism to represent something else, something ‘abstract’. “The Cask of Amontillado” tells the story of a man who takes revenge from his foe, by tricking him into his catacombs, then burying him which can be described as “The Perfect Crime”. In this paper, we …show more content…
Just under the celebratory carnival streets, there are catacombs, dark, narrow and eerie. Similarly, Montresor is a respected, noble man in society, but he also has evil and dark personality, which cannot be seen from the outside but waiting to be discovered. Also, Montresor uses the carnival time as an opportunity. Carnival season is a time for feast and celebration, when people have the freedom to do things which they may not do during other times. Baraban states that “During carnival, identities are destabilized and traditional social hierarchy and etiquette collapse; the poor may be elected carnival kings, bishops, and popes, whereas representatives of the upper classes may disguise themselves as peasants, servants, or fools” (9). That is why Fortunato agrees to go so deep into the catacombs with Montresor. As they go deeper into the catacomb, Montresor and Fortunato move into smaller and smaller spaces. This suggests that, as they travel away from the fresh air, they are also moving away from freedom. At the end of the story, Fortunato finds himself chained in a man-sized crypt with no air and no way out, he is anything but …show more content…
Every dialog between Fortunato and the narrator can be viewed as an example of irony, as if Montresor is making fun of him, calling him “friend”. Very first words that Montresor tells Fortunato, which they are “My dear Fortunato, you are luckily met. How remarkably well you are looking today!” Fortunato believes that Montresor is happy to see him because of his expertise on wine. But what Montresor means is the meeting is lucky because carnival time sets perfect time for his revenge. According to Nevi, “It might almost be said that all the story’s dialogue is ironic. A case might also be made for the idea that the story concludes only when irony is no longer possible, that is, only when Fortunato becomes “initiated” or aware of all that is happening” (3). This quote shows that the only time ironic dialogue stops is when Fortunato finds himself chained up on the wall with no way out, and becomes aware of what’s happening. Narrator also voices his concerns about Fortunato’s health several times, which he tells “Come, I said, with decision, we will go back; your health is precious”. Both narrator and the reader knows Montresor’s murder plan that awaits Fortunato when he goes with him into his catacombs, but Fortunato does not suspect such an act. Ironically, Montresor acts as if he is concerned about Fortunato’s health, which clearly understandable that he isn’t. The only one who doesn’t aware of what waits