The Cask Of Amontillado Short Essay

Stories that aim to frighten will attempt to develop an ambiance that evokes uncertainty. It must create scenes that exhibit verisimilitude; it is a necessity to contain details that add to the realism. The Cask of Amontillado is a fictional horror that presents the act of premeditated murder, biased revenge, and injustice. The imagery presented within the setting elevated all of three. The setting of The Cask of Amontillado plays a crucial role in the narrative; it is not merely a backdrop setting, but it is integral. A completely different story would result if the events took place in another locale. Edgar Allan Poe is a man known for his strange and macabre works. Gothic literature greatly influenced his writing, hence the abundance of Gothic elements found in The Cask of Amontillado. The presence of suspense, mystery, and the overall nightmare-like quality of the story is …show more content…
The catacombs were repeatedly described as dark and damp (867, par. 21, 25; 868, par. 37, 52; 869, par. 72; 870, par. 89). It was a small, confined space (869, par. 68) that provided the isolation needed to perpetrate the perfect crime. The description given by Poe for the catacombs is what gives The Cask of Amontillado its Gothic feel. The winding tunnels, the presence of underground passageways, the uncommon architecture (867, par. 25; 869, par. 67, 68), and the overall gloomy and eerie atmosphere gives it the Gothic touch. Another notable detail is the mention of niter (867, par. 30). This is another form of displaying seclusion; they are far away from the fresh air (869, par. 67) and surrounded only by the sour smell of Potassium nitrate. Furthermore, the fact that the catacombs are death itself would imply that it is a great location to plant a body in. There are already bones and bodies undisturbed for ages (868, par. 51; 869, par. 68). No one would suspect a dead body in a place meant to hold lifeless