Revenge In The Cask Of Amontillado Analysis

When exacting revenge, a person’s character can come into question. In “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allen Poe this is the very question that seems to be answered with not just a glimpse inside the thoughts of Montresor, who is the guilty party in question, but giving readers the ability to see it all play out from his eyes. The whole story of his revenge is based upon the assumption that Fortunato, his oblivious arch-nemesis, at one point, scorned him so badly that he had to take great lengths to exact his plans with full harshness. With all the thoughts of a truly psychotic character floating over these pages, it is hard to pinpoint exactly why Montresor did what he did. Never the less, the character himself is a complicated but well …show more content…
Montresor is no fool and uses his wits to successfully complete his revenge. We notice just how sophisticated Montresor is by the way he leads his drunken friend down into a dark, damp vault. By using reverse psychology he coaxes his friend deeper into the catacombs, unbeknownst that his fate is sealed the further he goes. He used Fortunato’s pride against him and would continue to tell him to turn back, knowing that in doing so his friend would continue on with fervor. By telling Fortunato “We will go back; you will be ill, and I cannot be responsible. Besides, there is Luchresi --" Montresor only makes him more stubborn on continuing on. This shows us, the readers, that Montresor is a master manipulator who is amazingly skilled at controlling his inept companion. He also studied Fortunato and knows that he cannot refuse good wine and flattery. By using everything he took time to learn about his supposed friend, he skillfully achieved …show more content…
His cold distance only suggests more that he is an unfeeling human being to whom cares only about himself. Since again, we do not know what atrocious act Fortunato committed against Montresor, it is difficult to logically justify his actions. Using his apathetic and cold-hearted nature he callously closes up his friend behind a brick wall to die. In a distant indifference he tricks the drunk Fortunato into chains and locks him down below, but when he starts to wall up his so-called friend he seems to play a joke. Fortunato starts to slowly realize what is happening and calls out “For the love of God, Montresor!” (Poe) but in a very murderous and sick way Montresor only replies with “‘Yes,’ I said, ‘for the love of God!’” (Poe) and continues to wall up his enemy. During all the time he is tricking Fortunato down into the solitude of the catacombs he is playing a sick joke. This is all the evidence needed to prove the point that Montresor is a psychopath with a need to cause harm to others and he does this with pleasure. When combined, all the evidence shows that Montresor is not just a horrible man but also a true psychopath. Montresor tells the story of dark revenge and evil intentions in his own words and shows it through his own thoughts. Readers know the story by seeing into the mind of this sinister