Gothic literature is one of the most dark, scary and thrilling genres in the arts. The greats, Edgar Allan Poe, Stephen King, Shirley Jackson and many more created a story that left the readers sleeping with one eye open. We can see this particularly in “The Cask of Amontillado” as Poe creates an unforgettable tension. Poe uses irony and elements in the setting of “The Cask of Amontillado” to develop the suspense.
Poe’s use of irony in “The Cask of Amontillado” drastically boosted the suspense by causing Fortunato to not not know the horrendous fate that precedes him. Fortunato’s destiny is spelled out in front of him, yet he is unaware of it, “‘I drink’ he said, ‘to the buried that repose around us’ ‘And I to your long life’”. (Poe, Page …show more content…
Poe uses Montresor's home as more than just a normal home, it is the site of a murder, “We came at length to the foot of the descent, and stood together upon the damp ground of the catacombs of the Montresors”. (Poe, Page 8). Montresor us unable take Fortunato to just his house, but also to the tombs of his family. This adds to the thrill as the essence of eradication looms in the tombs and in the reader's mind. Lastly, the catacombs house all of the dead Montresor’s but eagerness is added because we know Fortunato will soon be joining them. Montresor does not kill Fortunato quickly though, both him and the setting slowly killed him and made him suffer, “My poor friend found it impossible to reply for minutes. ‘It is nothing’ he said at last”. (Poe, Page 8). The nitre in the cave, which is an element of the setting, slowly kills Fortunato and makes him suffer. This adds to the chill of the story as we know that Fortunato is going to be killed but we don’t know when. All in all, Poe’s use of the elements of the setting continue the suspense of “The Cask of Amontillado” and the feeling that destruction is in the air. Death, the ultimate destiny everyone faces, the extreme goal in life as we try to do everything we’ve ever wanted to before we must look our end in the eyes. When will it happen, how will it happen, very few of us know,
Poe’s use of irony in “The Cask of Amontillado” drastically boosted the suspense by causing Fortunato to not not know the horrendous fate that precedes him. Fortunato’s destiny is spelled out in front of him, yet he is unaware of it, “‘I drink’ he said, ‘to the buried that repose around us’ ‘And I to your long life’”. (Poe, Page …show more content…
Poe uses Montresor's home as more than just a normal home, it is the site of a murder, “We came at length to the foot of the descent, and stood together upon the damp ground of the catacombs of the Montresors”. (Poe, Page 8). Montresor us unable take Fortunato to just his house, but also to the tombs of his family. This adds to the thrill as the essence of eradication looms in the tombs and in the reader's mind. Lastly, the catacombs house all of the dead Montresor’s but eagerness is added because we know Fortunato will soon be joining them. Montresor does not kill Fortunato quickly though, both him and the setting slowly killed him and made him suffer, “My poor friend found it impossible to reply for minutes. ‘It is nothing’ he said at last”. (Poe, Page 8). The nitre in the cave, which is an element of the setting, slowly kills Fortunato and makes him suffer. This adds to the chill of the story as we know that Fortunato is going to be killed but we don’t know when. All in all, Poe’s use of the elements of the setting continue the suspense of “The Cask of Amontillado” and the feeling that destruction is in the air. Death, the ultimate destiny everyone faces, the extreme goal in life as we try to do everything we’ve ever wanted to before we must look our end in the eyes. When will it happen, how will it happen, very few of us know,