Pride In The Cask Of Amontillado By Edgar Allan Poe

The greatest sin known to mankind is pride. From the beginning of time, pride has been the biggest downfall in humanity. People let their own pride influence their minds and let it consume them for the worse. For example, Adam and Eve let their pride get the best of them and it led to their destruction. Another example of the power of pride is seen in the famous narrative “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe. The main individual, Montresor, was insulted by another character, Fortunato, and this led Montresor’s pride to devour him and seek revenge causing a horrible tragedy; death. Poe illustrates the theme that pride steers to a man’s collapse through the actions of the characters in the story. The influence of pride is undoubtedly …show more content…
Looking at Fortunato and his pride, Montresor sees this as his biggest weakness but when he views himself, his pride is his biggest strength. With pride being Fortunato’s weakness, Montresor uses this and begins to plan his revenge by creating an imaginary cask of Amontillado. He does this because he knows Fortunato will do almost anything just to get a taste of it. Montresor lies to him and says that he is getting Luchesi to taste the wine because he knows this will tick Fortunato off since if anyone should be tasting anything then it should be Fortunato. Fortunato’s pride leads him to believe that not a single person is a better wine taster other than him. He then offends Montresor and Luchesi by stating that “You have been imposed upon. And as for Luchesi, he cannot distinguish Sherry from Amontillado” (4). This then had a major result on the story for the reason that Fortunato is certain that he can speak and achieve whatever he pleases due to his high and mighty skills. Unfortunately this leads Fortunato directly into Montresor’s …show more content…
Throughout their adventure through the catacombs, Montresor suggest they should turn back because Fortunato seems to be getting sick with the dampness in the air causing him to cough but Fortunato demands that they continue through the catacombs. In Fortunato’s mind, he must remain strongminded and physically strong so that Montresor will not think that he is weak. Again, this shows that he is willing to do anything to taste the wine. With pride taking over the mind of Fortunato, Montresor directs Fortunato to a crypt where he intends to lock Fortunato up and put him in the ground alive. Together, pride steers Fortunato and Montresor to this horrifying moment of Montresor slaying Fortunato without contemplating the end result that will come about from his actions and Fortunato’s pride blinds him from seeing this before it is too