The effect of Montresor’s unreliability in the story “The Cask of Amontillado”
In Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado,” the narrator, Montresor, illustrates how he led Fortunato, the victim, to an ill-fated passing. The author chose to utilize first-person narration by describing only Montresor’s thoughts and not Fortunato’s. As the reader has only one point of view, they should be very cautious to what extent to trust Montresor and whether to trust him at all. The unreliable character of Montresor undermines credibility of the narration, and, as a result, makes the readers question the entire story and find their own interpretation of protagonist’s actions.
There are two reasons why the reader should not trust Montresor entirely. First of all, it is the narrator’s character that casts doubt on his story. In the beginning of the story, Montresor stated his intentions to avenge without being …show more content…
By using only unreliable first person point of view, Poe gave the readers an opportunity to choose a particular perspective. For example, the readers might choose not to believe Montresor’s account of events, and instead, to sympathize with the victim. Benton says that in spite of Montresor’s eagerness and expectation of finding sympathy from the audience, “the readers must make their own judgments” (2). Also, had the author to write the story from the third person, the readers would have a more objective perspective with the victim’s side of the story. Furthermore, Poe ignited the imagination of the readers by presenting such an unreliable narrator as Montresor. The readers are welcomed to interpret the story on their own. One’s imagination might take Montresor’s story as his confession to his priest at his deathbed or as bravado of his youth actions to his lover. Another reader might question whether the described events took place at all, particularly whether Montresor made-up the entire
In Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado,” the narrator, Montresor, illustrates how he led Fortunato, the victim, to an ill-fated passing. The author chose to utilize first-person narration by describing only Montresor’s thoughts and not Fortunato’s. As the reader has only one point of view, they should be very cautious to what extent to trust Montresor and whether to trust him at all. The unreliable character of Montresor undermines credibility of the narration, and, as a result, makes the readers question the entire story and find their own interpretation of protagonist’s actions.
There are two reasons why the reader should not trust Montresor entirely. First of all, it is the narrator’s character that casts doubt on his story. In the beginning of the story, Montresor stated his intentions to avenge without being …show more content…
By using only unreliable first person point of view, Poe gave the readers an opportunity to choose a particular perspective. For example, the readers might choose not to believe Montresor’s account of events, and instead, to sympathize with the victim. Benton says that in spite of Montresor’s eagerness and expectation of finding sympathy from the audience, “the readers must make their own judgments” (2). Also, had the author to write the story from the third person, the readers would have a more objective perspective with the victim’s side of the story. Furthermore, Poe ignited the imagination of the readers by presenting such an unreliable narrator as Montresor. The readers are welcomed to interpret the story on their own. One’s imagination might take Montresor’s story as his confession to his priest at his deathbed or as bravado of his youth actions to his lover. Another reader might question whether the described events took place at all, particularly whether Montresor made-up the entire