Friend or Foe? Diving into the mind of a psychopath to understand the motive behind their actions is a rare and difficult occurrence. Edgar Allen Poe delivers that with his short story “The Cask of Amontillado.” Throughout the story, the main character Montresor narrates the story from his point of view about how he murders his acquaintance Fortunato. In “The Cask of Amontillado” the main character illustrates the steps he takes to exact revenge on his acquaintance. Fortunato has injured him many times, the breaking point being an insult. With the details presented as character traits, Poe shows just how all of the aspects contribute to his character’s insanity. Throughout the story, Poe uses the personality of the character, motivational
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Throughout the short story, his personality is shown to be manipulative, cunning, and passive aggressive. Upon meeting Fortunato at the carnival Montresor provokes his inebriated friend to taste a new wine; unbeknownst to Fortunato the wine is in the family catacombs. Shortly after, the narrator baits Fortunato to accompany him back to his palazzo to taste the wine by telling him he will invite Luchresi, who seems to be a superior wine connoisseur (Poe 167). By using manipulative verbal communication techniques Poe shows the cunning of the narrator with his skill in leading Fortunato to do exactly as Montresor wishes. The narrator manipulates Fortunato in a seemingly effortless plan to control the situation for his self-benefit. Another example of how the narrator’s personality is manipulative is at the end of the short story Montresor has a sense of accomplishment by succeeding in his planned endeavor. Poe writes, “For the love of God, Montresor! Yes, for the love of God! (170).” Poe shows that the narrator has a sense of satisfaction at this point, he has recently entombed his friend and is reveling in the glory of killing him. Once Montresor begins to mock Fortunato, upon his entombment, his lack of remorse displays psychopathic traits. Montresor’s disturbed personality shows the frame of mind that he will not stop until he enacts his …show more content…
Throughout the short story, the narrator stays the same in terms of development however, Poe uses this as a strategy to show how unstable the character is. At the beginning of the story Poe writes, “I must not only punish but punish with impunity” (166). The narrator believes to be entitled to a sense of exonerative belief that he is above the law. At the end of the story, Montresor leaves the audience with a simple statement that shows the character development throughout the story as seemingly nonexistent. After Montresor entombs his friend he admits, “My heart grew sick; it was the dampness of the catacombs that made it so” (171). Montresor dismisses any feeling of guilt or remorse towards his recent actions. This imagery thus displays that he feels to be above any law condemning him for his actions. Montresor believes the sick feeling he has to be caused by the dampness of the catacombs instead of a remorse feeling for murdering his friend. Although Montresor is sitting near skeletons, he shows no empathy for the fact he recently murdered his friend. While the narrator of this poem shows little change in the short story for character development, Poe uses this to his advantage to visualize how vengeful Montresor
Throughout the short story, his personality is shown to be manipulative, cunning, and passive aggressive. Upon meeting Fortunato at the carnival Montresor provokes his inebriated friend to taste a new wine; unbeknownst to Fortunato the wine is in the family catacombs. Shortly after, the narrator baits Fortunato to accompany him back to his palazzo to taste the wine by telling him he will invite Luchresi, who seems to be a superior wine connoisseur (Poe 167). By using manipulative verbal communication techniques Poe shows the cunning of the narrator with his skill in leading Fortunato to do exactly as Montresor wishes. The narrator manipulates Fortunato in a seemingly effortless plan to control the situation for his self-benefit. Another example of how the narrator’s personality is manipulative is at the end of the short story Montresor has a sense of accomplishment by succeeding in his planned endeavor. Poe writes, “For the love of God, Montresor! Yes, for the love of God! (170).” Poe shows that the narrator has a sense of satisfaction at this point, he has recently entombed his friend and is reveling in the glory of killing him. Once Montresor begins to mock Fortunato, upon his entombment, his lack of remorse displays psychopathic traits. Montresor’s disturbed personality shows the frame of mind that he will not stop until he enacts his …show more content…
Throughout the short story, the narrator stays the same in terms of development however, Poe uses this as a strategy to show how unstable the character is. At the beginning of the story Poe writes, “I must not only punish but punish with impunity” (166). The narrator believes to be entitled to a sense of exonerative belief that he is above the law. At the end of the story, Montresor leaves the audience with a simple statement that shows the character development throughout the story as seemingly nonexistent. After Montresor entombs his friend he admits, “My heart grew sick; it was the dampness of the catacombs that made it so” (171). Montresor dismisses any feeling of guilt or remorse towards his recent actions. This imagery thus displays that he feels to be above any law condemning him for his actions. Montresor believes the sick feeling he has to be caused by the dampness of the catacombs instead of a remorse feeling for murdering his friend. Although Montresor is sitting near skeletons, he shows no empathy for the fact he recently murdered his friend. While the narrator of this poem shows little change in the short story for character development, Poe uses this to his advantage to visualize how vengeful Montresor