“The Cask of Amontillado” is a short story written by Edgar Allan Poe. It was published in 1846 and was the last of Poe’s short stories. The short story didn’t garner much attention when it was first released, but it did peg Poe as a brilliant yet somewhat disturbed writer. It is a story of pride, revenge, and murder. In “The Cask of Amontillado,” Montresor, the narrator of the story, tells his tale of revenge against a man named Fortunato. This story contains many different elements that can hold hidden meanings. Through the story’s symbols, Poe, expresses many hidden meanings within his horrific tale of revenge.
The setting that is introduced in the beginning of the story is very symbolic. Within the town a carnival is in motion which is …show more content…
Fortunato’s costume is similar to what a Jester or “fool” would have worn: “He had on a tight-fitting parti-striped dress, and his head was surmounted by the conical cap and bells” (292). This costume is very appropriate for Fortunato since he is ignorant of Montresor’s true intentions right up until the very end. He is also seen as inebriated throughout the story. Both of these characteristics describe a fool. Montresor’s costume is seen as, “a mask of black silk,” and he is wearing a “roquelaire” (292). A roquelaire is a knee-length cloak. The costume is representative of the Grim Reaper, who is known for wearing a black cloak. The mask Montresor wears can also symbolize his hidden agenda. His mask relates to his true self much like the carnival and catacombs do. The mask is a cover for his dark plot. Therefore Montresor’s costume represents his plot of revenge and murder. He is seen as Fortunato’s death.
The Montresor family arms symbolizes the motive behind Montresor’s plot of revenge. The arms is seen as, “a huge human foot…the foot crushes a serpent rampant whose fangs are imbedded in the heel” (293). This shows that the Montresor’s have a long family history of attacking or crushing those that attack them. This symbol explains why Montresor finds Fortunato’s insult serious enough to warrant his death. It runs in the
The setting that is introduced in the beginning of the story is very symbolic. Within the town a carnival is in motion which is …show more content…
Fortunato’s costume is similar to what a Jester or “fool” would have worn: “He had on a tight-fitting parti-striped dress, and his head was surmounted by the conical cap and bells” (292). This costume is very appropriate for Fortunato since he is ignorant of Montresor’s true intentions right up until the very end. He is also seen as inebriated throughout the story. Both of these characteristics describe a fool. Montresor’s costume is seen as, “a mask of black silk,” and he is wearing a “roquelaire” (292). A roquelaire is a knee-length cloak. The costume is representative of the Grim Reaper, who is known for wearing a black cloak. The mask Montresor wears can also symbolize his hidden agenda. His mask relates to his true self much like the carnival and catacombs do. The mask is a cover for his dark plot. Therefore Montresor’s costume represents his plot of revenge and murder. He is seen as Fortunato’s death.
The Montresor family arms symbolizes the motive behind Montresor’s plot of revenge. The arms is seen as, “a huge human foot…the foot crushes a serpent rampant whose fangs are imbedded in the heel” (293). This shows that the Montresor’s have a long family history of attacking or crushing those that attack them. This symbol explains why Montresor finds Fortunato’s insult serious enough to warrant his death. It runs in the