Theme Of Irony In The Cask Of Amontillado

Register to read the introduction… Beyond the story’s dialogue, irony covers numerous portions of the story. The first thing that I found ironic in Poe’s story is its title, “The Cask of Amontillado”. When I first heard of this story, the word cask, which meant wine barrel sounded very similar to casket. After reading the story, “The Cask of Amontillado” was the perfect choice for the title because it leads to Fortunato’s final resting place. In addition, “the story's setting is ironic in that a carnival is a place for gaiety, happiness, and fun and games, not for cruel, cold blooded murder.” Even Fortunato's name is ironic. Fortunato closely resembles the word fortunate which is satirical because “he is definitely not the fortunate one”. The conversation between Montresor and Fortunato in the story even gives subtle hints of irony. Montresor's use of the word "friend" in reference to Fortunato, a man Montresor hates enough to kill”. Poe uses irony frequently in the dialogue. For example, when Montresor runs into Fortunato, he says, “My dear Fortunato, you are luckily met.” Later, when Montresor pretends to be concerned about Fortunato’s hacking cough as they descend into the vaults, Montresor says, “We will go back. Your health is precious. You are rich, respected, admired, beloved; you are happy, as I once was. You are a man to be missed.” Fortunato then …show more content…
The amontillado was an important symbol because it was used to lure Fortunato. The amontillado symbolizes Fortunato’s arrogance because he truly believed that he is the only person who can determine the quality of Amontillado. Fortunato is implicitly stereotyped as a drunk and the amontillado could also symbolize his weakness of addiction to alcohol. Also, Fortunato wearing a clown costume is fitting because Montresor wants Fortunato to die like the fool that he is. The clown costume depicts Fortunato in a humiliating way and Montresor know this. In addition, the carnival was also symbolic because it a time of celebration. The carnival presented itself as the perfect time to commit a perfect crime. Carnival has at all times represented a time of celebration; this could have been Montresor's celebration of the revenge he extracts upon