Irony is a commonly misused literary device. Many people confuse it with coincidence, though in reality it is not. However, if used correctly, it can be extremely potent . All one needs to do is read an outstanding example of it to realize its effectiveness. In the short story “The Cask of Amontillado”, the way Edgar Allen Poe uses irony throughout the entire story is nothing short of genius. To find an example of irony in the story, one does not need to look beyond the main character. The name "Fortunato" is almost identical to the word "fortunate". This is ironic as Fortunato is anything but fortunate, as Montresor, whom Fortunato believes to be his friend, tricks him and buries him alive. However, what is even more ironic is that he is
