“The Cask of Amontillado” is one of Edgar Allan Poe’s best known horror stories. Poe tells the horrific events that added up to Fortunato’s death. Throughout the story, Poe uses dramatic, situational, and verbal irony, as well as foreshadowing to create suspense. These elements are present to show the characterization of Montresor as a clever and cruel killer. The irony throughout “The Cask of Amontillado” reveals the characterization of Montresor. Dramatic irony is found throughout the entire story, as Fortunato does not clue into Montresor’s plan to kill him. Montresor reveals many clues that he is planning on killing him, but Fortunato does not clue in. Montresor’s motives to kill Fortunato show what kind of person he really is. He is
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Montresor means “power that is believed to control what happens in the future” (“Simple Definition”). This is demonstrated throughout as Montresor controls Fortunato’s future by killing him. Meanwhile, Fortunato means lucky. Fortunato’s name is ironic because he is anything but lucky. When Montresor sees Fortunato, he is pleased to see how he is dressed. He was dressed for the event of the carnival, where he wore a ridiculous costume. Poe says, “The man wore motley. He had on a tight-fitting parti-striped dress, and his head was surmounted by the conical cap and bells” (Poe 436). Fortunato could have worn anything that night, but of course it was a costume. It would soon prove Fortunato’s foolishness as he followed Montresor into the catacomb to where he would die. During the time of the murder, above them a carnival was taking place. A carnival is usually associated with happiness and making memories with friends and family. Out of all the places that Poe could have chosen he chooses a place of happiness. Juxtaposition is being enforced as the happiness of the carnival is also being associated with the death death of the murder. After he planned out and executed the murder it says, “My heart grew sick-on account of the dampness of the catacombs” (Poe 440). Usually after someone does something that they should not have, they feel some sort of guilt. After after he murders …show more content…
When Montresor first sees Fortunato at the carnival he says, “‘My dear Fortunato, you are luckily met. How remarkably well you are looking to-day’” (Poe 436). Fortunato just thinks that his friend is happy to see him. Although Montresor seems like a genuine friend, he is just happy to see Fortunato to carry his plan out to murder him. When Montresor acts if he is Fortunato’s friend, it makes Fortunato unaware of what is happening. After Fortunato becomes drunk he gets concerned for his health. He constantly says that they should return back before Fortunato becomes ill, but he does not listen. Montresor is almost using reverse psychology so Fortunato does the opposite of what he says. This is a very clever plan, because it shows the relationship among Montresor and Fortunato. It comes clear that these two characters know each other, well enough to know that this would work. After he becomes drunk, it says, “‘Enough…the cough 's a mere nothing; it will not kill me. I shall not die of a cough’” (Poe 438). Although this was true, Montresor knew that he would die of something much more severe than a cough if his plan of revenge went
Montresor means “power that is believed to control what happens in the future” (“Simple Definition”). This is demonstrated throughout as Montresor controls Fortunato’s future by killing him. Meanwhile, Fortunato means lucky. Fortunato’s name is ironic because he is anything but lucky. When Montresor sees Fortunato, he is pleased to see how he is dressed. He was dressed for the event of the carnival, where he wore a ridiculous costume. Poe says, “The man wore motley. He had on a tight-fitting parti-striped dress, and his head was surmounted by the conical cap and bells” (Poe 436). Fortunato could have worn anything that night, but of course it was a costume. It would soon prove Fortunato’s foolishness as he followed Montresor into the catacomb to where he would die. During the time of the murder, above them a carnival was taking place. A carnival is usually associated with happiness and making memories with friends and family. Out of all the places that Poe could have chosen he chooses a place of happiness. Juxtaposition is being enforced as the happiness of the carnival is also being associated with the death death of the murder. After he planned out and executed the murder it says, “My heart grew sick-on account of the dampness of the catacombs” (Poe 440). Usually after someone does something that they should not have, they feel some sort of guilt. After after he murders …show more content…
When Montresor first sees Fortunato at the carnival he says, “‘My dear Fortunato, you are luckily met. How remarkably well you are looking to-day’” (Poe 436). Fortunato just thinks that his friend is happy to see him. Although Montresor seems like a genuine friend, he is just happy to see Fortunato to carry his plan out to murder him. When Montresor acts if he is Fortunato’s friend, it makes Fortunato unaware of what is happening. After Fortunato becomes drunk he gets concerned for his health. He constantly says that they should return back before Fortunato becomes ill, but he does not listen. Montresor is almost using reverse psychology so Fortunato does the opposite of what he says. This is a very clever plan, because it shows the relationship among Montresor and Fortunato. It comes clear that these two characters know each other, well enough to know that this would work. After he becomes drunk, it says, “‘Enough…the cough 's a mere nothing; it will not kill me. I shall not die of a cough’” (Poe 438). Although this was true, Montresor knew that he would die of something much more severe than a cough if his plan of revenge went