Theme Of Blindness In The Cask Of Amontillado

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Edgar Allan Poe’s short story “The Cask of Amontillado” tells the journey of Fortunato, a blubbering drunk dressed as a jester, and Montresor, a man craving retribution. Montresor’s revenge comes to sweep life from under Fortunato’s feet in the form of a brick wall. In what begins as a lively venture to find a Cask of Amontillado, a delicious wine, quickly changes to a purely evil plot. Poe uses Montresor’s vision of the future and Fortunato’s blindness to the situation to create the theme of blindness vs vision.
Montresor had been wronged by Fortunato and because of this he is pursuing revenge. All along Montresor sees his relationship with Fortunato for what it truly is, hatred. Though he did not reveal these feelings to Fortunato, at the beginning he states The thousands of injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult I vowed revenge. You, who so well know the nature of my soul, will not suppose, however, that gave utterance to a threat. At length I would be avenged; this was a point definitely, settled—but the very definitiveness with which it was resolved precluded the idea of risk. I must not only punish but punish with impunity. He has a vision in his head of leading Fortunato to get a delicious wine but leads him instead to his death as he barricades him inside the catacombs. His vision and ability to see beyond the façade he has created makes him aware of what is to come. This plan to punish came to fruition and thrilled Montresor. As he listened to a panicked and trapped Fortunato he stepped back and said “The noise lasted for several minutes, during which, that I might hearken to it with the more satisfaction. I ceased my labors and sat down upon the bones. When at last the clanking subsided, I resumed the trowel” He was extremely excited because all along this is what he was anticipating. He does not see this murder as a crime but as a way to live up to his family’s motto “Nemo me impune lacessit” (“No one insults me with impunity.”) Elena V. Baraban
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Throughout the journey he handed drinks to Fortunato. The alcohol fogged his judgment and reasoning and caused any worry to disappear. Fortunato’s blindness to the situation is best shown when Montresor does not recognize a gesture made to him and Fortunato says “Then you are not of the brotherhood…You are not of the masons.” Afterwards Montresor confirmed that he is of the masons and uncovered a trowel from underneath his cloak. Foolishly Fortunato saw nothing peculiar about the bricklaying tool presented to him. He did not question why it was readily available to Montresor as if he would be needing it soon. Unbeknownst to Fortunato this would be the tool to end his life soon after. He continued to follow his “friend” further into the recesses of the catacombs exclaiming “You jest, but let us proceed to the Amontillado.” From this it is understood that he takes these situations as jokes and does not delve any deeper into the meanings than he has to. Fortunato does not realize the façade that has been placed in front of him. Montresor is not his friend though he believes him to be. He believes that his joking nature is appreciated and that nothing bad is to come to him. He is unaware that he is soon to join the deceased that surround

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