In today’s society evil takes many forms, many of them motivated by political goals. In the past, particularly in a new and growing society, America, evil was hidden from public sight and harder to fathom for a hopeful populace. The two stories used for this essay: “The cask of Amontillado” and “Young Goodman Brown” features two examples of evil with different motivations. Edgar Allen Poe’s story is motivated by the need for retribution while Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Goodman Brown’s motivations are a bit harder to discern. In Poe’s tale, our narrator, talks of a man who has mistreated him publicly, a rich connoisseur of wine named Fortunato. It is only after being insulted by Fortunato, presumably in public, that Montresor, the narrator, vows
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Montresor calmly recollects the tale with what seems to be a lack of emotion. There seems to be no regret or conscience present, however, emotion does appear in two areas of the story. In the opening when Montresor speaks about being “hurt” by Fortunato, and at the end of the story he seems to take solace that the victim has rested there for so long undisturbed. This last part of the story may convey a sense of guilt and worry about being found out, at no time does Montresor seem to feel guilt. Another possibility is that Montresor views himself as a “God” figure, able to end another’s life and to escape punishment with “impunity”. Whatever the reason, Montresor, executes his revenge with critical calculation and decisive …show more content…
Reassuring his wife, Faith, that all will be well and he shall be back in the morning, Brown departs. Meeting with an old man on the forest road, presumably the Devil, Brown continues on to the meeting place. Several individuals pass Brown in the night on their way to a meeting, people he holds in high regard. Brown arrives at the meeting and is forced to form new opinions about many of his neighbors and relatives. When confronted with the presence of his wife, Faith, Brown speaks out against what is occurring and finds himself alone. He is left to wonder if his experiences were a dream or a reality that was swept away when he rebelled against
Montresor calmly recollects the tale with what seems to be a lack of emotion. There seems to be no regret or conscience present, however, emotion does appear in two areas of the story. In the opening when Montresor speaks about being “hurt” by Fortunato, and at the end of the story he seems to take solace that the victim has rested there for so long undisturbed. This last part of the story may convey a sense of guilt and worry about being found out, at no time does Montresor seem to feel guilt. Another possibility is that Montresor views himself as a “God” figure, able to end another’s life and to escape punishment with “impunity”. Whatever the reason, Montresor, executes his revenge with critical calculation and decisive …show more content…
Reassuring his wife, Faith, that all will be well and he shall be back in the morning, Brown departs. Meeting with an old man on the forest road, presumably the Devil, Brown continues on to the meeting place. Several individuals pass Brown in the night on their way to a meeting, people he holds in high regard. Brown arrives at the meeting and is forced to form new opinions about many of his neighbors and relatives. When confronted with the presence of his wife, Faith, Brown speaks out against what is occurring and finds himself alone. He is left to wonder if his experiences were a dream or a reality that was swept away when he rebelled against