A Revengeful Murder
Edgar Allan Poe is known for his dark, mysterious short stories; “The Cask of Amontillado” is a prime example of one of them. A main theme present in this story is revenge and that is constantly made known through the use of irony. This story is set in a European city in a year that was never clarified. In “The Cask of Amontillado” two main characters that are very different from one another experience a conflict at some point. During the story Poe describes their journey and the very unfortunate outcome of it. Throughout this story Montresor is fulfilling his family motto by getting Fortunato back for insulting him at some point in time, and he stops at nothing to finally rid himself of the wrath of Fortunato. This story …show more content…
Fortunato is a Latin word meaning “luck” or is French for “the fortunate one;” throughout the story it is made known that it is quite the opposite. Fortunato’s arrogance and cocky temperament has landed him on the bad side of Montresor, another main character in the story. Something Fortunato did to Montresor has caused Montresor to have a hatred towards him, which will lead to the death of Fortunato. Montresor said, “My dear Fortunato, you are luckily met. How remarkably well you are looking today!” (Poe, 739) The irony of this statement is when Montresor says he is luckily met; but Montresor is planning on killing Fortunato so there is nothing lucky about it. Also, he says he looks well but Fortunato is soon to be dead. Poe uses irony throughout “The Cask of Amontillado” to contradict the real meaning of words and phrases …show more content…
Montresor thinks, “It was about dusk, one evening during the supreme madness of the carnival season, that I encountered my friend” (Poe, 739). The story starts off with Montresor and Fortunato at a carnival, which is ironic because carnivals are portrayed as a safe haven for families. When a carnival is thought of one thinks of a happy place for fun and games; but in “The Cask of Amontillado” it is quite the opposite. On the night of the carnival, Montresor decides he is going to fulfill the revenge he seeks to inflict on Fortunato. For many years Montresor has tried to give Fortunato the upper-hand; but he falls short again and again. Once they leave the carnival the setting changes to a vault where the Montresor family catacombs are located. This is ironic in itself because catacombs are underground cemeteries. Fortunato is too drunk to realize where Montresor is taking him and what is actually happening. The irony present in this location leads the reader to believe Fortunato’s death is soon to
Edgar Allan Poe is known for his dark, mysterious short stories; “The Cask of Amontillado” is a prime example of one of them. A main theme present in this story is revenge and that is constantly made known through the use of irony. This story is set in a European city in a year that was never clarified. In “The Cask of Amontillado” two main characters that are very different from one another experience a conflict at some point. During the story Poe describes their journey and the very unfortunate outcome of it. Throughout this story Montresor is fulfilling his family motto by getting Fortunato back for insulting him at some point in time, and he stops at nothing to finally rid himself of the wrath of Fortunato. This story …show more content…
Fortunato is a Latin word meaning “luck” or is French for “the fortunate one;” throughout the story it is made known that it is quite the opposite. Fortunato’s arrogance and cocky temperament has landed him on the bad side of Montresor, another main character in the story. Something Fortunato did to Montresor has caused Montresor to have a hatred towards him, which will lead to the death of Fortunato. Montresor said, “My dear Fortunato, you are luckily met. How remarkably well you are looking today!” (Poe, 739) The irony of this statement is when Montresor says he is luckily met; but Montresor is planning on killing Fortunato so there is nothing lucky about it. Also, he says he looks well but Fortunato is soon to be dead. Poe uses irony throughout “The Cask of Amontillado” to contradict the real meaning of words and phrases …show more content…
Montresor thinks, “It was about dusk, one evening during the supreme madness of the carnival season, that I encountered my friend” (Poe, 739). The story starts off with Montresor and Fortunato at a carnival, which is ironic because carnivals are portrayed as a safe haven for families. When a carnival is thought of one thinks of a happy place for fun and games; but in “The Cask of Amontillado” it is quite the opposite. On the night of the carnival, Montresor decides he is going to fulfill the revenge he seeks to inflict on Fortunato. For many years Montresor has tried to give Fortunato the upper-hand; but he falls short again and again. Once they leave the carnival the setting changes to a vault where the Montresor family catacombs are located. This is ironic in itself because catacombs are underground cemeteries. Fortunato is too drunk to realize where Montresor is taking him and what is actually happening. The irony present in this location leads the reader to believe Fortunato’s death is soon to