How Does Fortunato Symbolize In The Cask Of Amontillado

In Edgar Allen Poe's short story "The Cask of Amontillado," the narrator, Montresor, is telling of how a man by the name of Fortunato has done him wrong a thousand times but insulting him was the last straw, and he vowed to get his revenge. Montresor describes Fortunato as wearing a "tight-fitting parti-striped dress, and his head was surmounted by the conical cap and bells."(116). Montresor persuades Fortunato to come and take a look at the pipe of Amontillado that he has attained. Montresor tells us that all of his servants are out of the house for the night, so they have the house all to themselves. They walk down the staircase leading into the catacombs and with Fortunato being drunk he keeps coughing, Montresor says that he is concerned for the man's health and offers him a little more to drink. …show more content…
From where they stand they see a recessed area that is "in depth four feet, in width three, in height six or seven."(119). Montresor urges Fortunato into the smaller space, with Fortunato being so drunk he is confused as Montresor chains him to the area. As Montresor is bringing in mortar and stone Fortunato is still wondering where the Amontillado is. As Montresor lays the first tier of masonry, he discovers that, "the intoxication of Fortunato had in great measure worn off."(120). When Montresor had first realized this, he had heard a " low moaning cry from the depth of the recess."(120). As he is laying the second, third, and fourth tier he could hear the vibrating of the chains, this went on for several minutes as he listened to it with satisfaction. Montresor ceased his labors for a little and sat down upon the bones that were in a pile when at last the clanking subsided and he finishes the fifth, sixth, and seventh tier. As Fortunato is screaming Montresor answers back with yells that surpassed his in volume and in