...Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado” is a story told by an unreliable narrator, Montresor. The narrator tells of his devious plan and insanity that lead to the murder of his enemy, Fortunato. However, despite Montresor’s apparent bitterness, the two could’ve worked something out, avoiding the unnecessary death of Fortunato. Our first impression of the main character and narrator, Montresor, is that he is cunning and unreliable. When he speaks of what Fortunato had supposedly done to him, he does so very one-sidedly and leaves out many details. He claims Fortunato has caused a ‘thousand injuries’ to him and more, but neither the one thousand offenses or final insult are named. It can ultimately be suspected he is very jealous of Fortunato,...
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...Anger is a very strong emotion that can make people do things they regret. In Edgar Allen Poe's "The Cask of Amontillado" the story begins when Fortunato plays a prank on Montresor. He is tired of being pranked, so he vows revenge. At a party Montresor tricks Fortunato into following him to his catacombs where he later buries him alive. Fortunato makes himself an easy target because he is an alcoholic, persistent, and believes he is the best wine taster. First, due to the fact that Fortunato is an alcoholic, he does not realize Montresor actually hates him. Montresor and Fortunato are at a party. Montresor approaches Fortunato and begins the first steps in his plan to bring him to his catacombs. "I encountered my friend. He accosted me with...
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...Seeing Poe’s Struggle with Alcoholism through his Stories “The Cask of Amontillado” and “The Black Cat” Jen Andalou Edgar Allen Poe’s stories “The Black Cat” and “The Cask of Amontillado” are among his most popular. Both of these stories can be read on several different levels causing everyone who reads them to come up with a totally different interpretations, yet none of the interpretations I have read seem satisfying. The two stories at first seem simple enough, with “The Black Cat” reading as a darker version of “The Telltale Heart”, this time with the conscience given a physical form, and “The Cask of Amontillado” as a chilling tale of revenge exacted told as a deathbed confession. Yet these simple interpretations leave too many questions. Many reviewers unfairly single Poe’s works out as coming directly from his subconscious, ignoring not only how carefully Poe chose his words and phrases but also the sources that inspired the stories (E A Poe Society, “Autobiography”). That being said, I think Poe did deliberately use his stories as a kind of self-therapy thus revealing at least a little about himself. A large constant in Poe’s life was his fight with alcohol, which made itself known in his writing in many ways. The main theme of Edgar Allen Poe’s stories “The Black Cat” and “The Cask of Amontillado” centers on the narrators’ attempts to wall off, or suppress, his alcoholism, with the narrator succeeding over alcoholism in “The Cask of Amontillado” while...
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...An Interpretation of Literature Stephen King, a very successful author of contemporary horror and supernatural fiction books, once said, “The trust of the innocent is the liar’s most useful tool”. The liar is able to take advantage of the innocent due to the exchange of trust. In Edgar Allen Poe’s short story “The Cask of Amontillado,” Montresor yearns to wreak vengeance on Fortunato. Montresor utilizes Fortunato’s trust to get what he wants. In “The Cask of Amontillado,” Edgar Allen Poe parallels King’s theme, through dramatic irony and the climax, that once trust has been gained, the bad qualities in a person are much less noticeable. One way Edgar Allen Poe emphasizes that the establishment of trust masks lunacy through the use of dramatic...
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...One of the best ways an author is able to express underlying messages without directly explaining their intentions is through symbols. Symbolic representation is a tool that has been used for hundreds of years in literature. Edgar Allen Poe’s uses of symbols in The Cask of Amontillado are very well put together and organized. The symbols Poe used in this story suggest, the wine which represents pride and arrogance, the trowel which is a representation of power and strength, and where Montresor buries Fortunato’s body which symbolizes everlasting revenge. First off, the wine is the single most powerful symbol in The Cask of Amontillado and many people would argue the different ideologies that it could represent. One of the most common symbols...
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...Critical Essay: Elements of Literature in Poe’s “Cask of Amontillado” Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado” Is a well written shorty story filled with many significant literary elements. Firstly we will write about the plot, the overall summary of the story, and the main themes, the central ideas of this tale. The plot of "The Cask of Amontillado" is a great account of vengeance. The assassin promises “revenge” upon Fortunato for an “insult.” The main theme revolves around the assassin plans to pursue vengeance in support of his family motto: "Nemo me impune lacessit. This means “no one cuts (attacks) me with impunity.” On the coat of arms of his family, which bears this motto, looks "a huge human foot d'or, in a field of azure; the foot crushes a serpent rampant whose fangs are embedded in the heel.” Thus reflects the theme of vengeance because the assassin’s plan of revenge on Fortunato for an insult. Secondly we have characterization, the personalities of the characters of the characters produced. The true focus lies upon the assassin, the wicked Montresor. Montresor is an evil man who is happy at his chance to murder. The costume that Fortunato donned on the night of his murder was that of a jester, while appropriate...
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...Symbolism in “The Cask of Amontillado” Symbolism in “The Cask of Amontillado” The symbolism throughout Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado” constantly pair similar ideas that contradict each other. The characters are unaware of the symbolic details in conversations or events that occur throughout the story. The reader may find him/her self siding with Montresor since we have all been insulted at one time or another, but that doesn’t constitute revenge to the point of killing a person. Literature containing symbolism can be interpreted or viewed differently by the reader. Poe put much effort and thought into the details of his literature, he painted a descriptive picture for the reader matter how dark and dreary. The name “Fortunato” means fortune/fortunate, which is symbolic because it is the complete opposite for the character in this story since his fate has been decided for him, “derivation from the verb fortunate, blessed by the goddess fortuna, or random fate. Naturally, to embrace fortuna was unthinkable in the Reformed traditions. Fate was not random” (87). Montresor is constantly smiling at Fortunato so he will have no suspicion of his bad intentions. “I continued, as was my wont, to smile in his face, and he did not perceive that my smile now was at the thought of his immolation” (108). A kind gesture such as a smile can be misleading, it is hard to depict whether an individual is a friend or foe. Fortunato is dressed as...
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...The two stories I will be using for my analysis will be Edgar Allen Poe’s short story called The Cask of Amontillado and Sweat by Zora Neale Hurston. I will be using the main idea of revenge for both stories. The elements of the stories I will analyze will be their theme. I will compare the theme of revenge that occurs in both stories and contrasts the theme of justified and unjustified revenge. my comparison will teach the readers about how the theme of revenge occurred and how the theme of revenge differs in each story as well as the reasons for the revenge. Similarities Revenge both themes of revenge are Premeditated The form of revenge the characters take are killing the person they are vengeful against The revenge comes from an...
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...Symbolism in The Cask of Amontillado Symbols play an important part in literary works. Most stories are full of them, and each one adds detail and background to the story. Some of them are obvious, and others are hidden away like treasures waiting to be found. Edgar Allen Poe’s The Cask of Amontillado is full of all types of symbolism, some examples being the setting, clothing, and even the character names. The biggest symbol in the Cast of Amontillado is the cask itself. Not only is it something spoken of in the story, it is also mentioned in the title, showing its importance. Its dictionary meaning would be a large barrel like container used for storing liquids. However, in the story it means so much more. Symbols usually have connotative meanings as well, which have particular meanings based on the context. In this story, the cask’s connotative meaning is much more important than its denotative meaning. The cask was used to lure Fortunato to his death. The word cask shares the same root as casket, which is used to hold dead bodies for burial. While it did not hold Fortunato‘s body, it was the object that tricked Fortunato into falling into Montresor’s trap. This ended with Fortunato being buried alive, in what ended up being similar to a casket. The cask in this story is an example of a literary symbol, as a cask would not normally be associated with a casket. The meaning of the symbol was wholly established in the story....
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...pain is often our own mind, and when someone manages to manipulate us on a mental level, we are at our most vulnerable. Edgar Allen Poe was a master at painting vivid storylines of people going insane with the prospect of their own doom. Hollywood has combined classic fear-inducing plots with gruesome special effects to bring that same mentality to audiences. In the short story by Poe, “The Cask of Amontillado”, the main antagonist effortlessly manipulates and traps his victim. In much of the same way, the gory “Saw” franchise focuses on a madman who sees himself as a vigilante and takes justice into his own hands by torturing his victims on both a mental and psychological level. “The Cask of Amontillado” and the “Saw” movies share the combined use of entrapment, manipulation, and psychological and physical infliction of pain while being at polar extremes in the methods used upon their victims. Entrapment plays an important role in both horror sagas. In the story of the Amontillado, Fortunado is taken deep into the vault. As the two walked deeper down, Fortunado was repeatedly asked if he wanted to turn back “We will go back; you will be ill and I cannot be responsible. Besides there is Luchesi” (Poe), but his pride and vanity drove him on farther into the catacombs in search of the Amontillado. Fortunato was led into a niche where instead of the Amontillado stood two iron stalls with a short chain attached. Quickly the links were thrown around Fortunado’s waist and locking...
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...Poe once stated, “A short story must have a single mood and every sentence must build towards it.” (Goodreads.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 8 Oct. 2014.). “The Cask of Amontillado” tells the story of Montresor, who has been insulted by Fortunato, and wants him to pay the ultimate price for it. “The Raven” is a story about a man having to brutally come to terms with being alone in his life. Because Edgar Allen Poe uses ominous detail, each of his stories portray a strong mood of suspense. Poe uses ominous detail for create an idea of death in “The Cask of Amontillado”. While walking in the catacombs, Fortunato and Montresor reach the end of the tunnels, and walking toward where Fortunato will be murdered, attempt to slice through the darkness with...
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...to a real location and take notes as observed to compare and contrast with the literary setting of my choice. As for the location I chose Coney Island in comparison with the Carnival Feast in “The Cask of Amontillado”, by Edgar Allan Poe. Judging by my experience in Coney Island, I can state that there is an abundance of cultural heritage in that specific location. Coney Island gave me a perspective; on how cultural heritage consists of a unity with joyful events that bring different types of ethnicities, art, music, and overall culture together in one location. Coney Island is a very big attraction, for the most part known by many New Yorkers and tourists. “Coney” has very big, loud, and extravagant rides starting from the most famous/oldest ride the “Cyclone” and “Wonder Wheel” and most recently added amongst the hall of fame the “Polar Express”. To their race tracks, bumper cars (a place in a dark room filled with neon blue, red, yellow and green lights, my personal favorite). It was night time so everything was lit up. I imagine this is what Edgar Allen Poe meant when he mentioned the carnival season in “The Cask of Amontillado.” The carnival setting briefly described in the story of “The Cask of Amontillado”, isn’t much different from the scenery I observed in Coney Island. Edgar Allan Poe described scenery of a warm dusk night at the carnival filled with madness, and the dress attire and status of one of the protagonists. In Coney it was a warm night with many people intoxicated...
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...The Cask of Amontillado by: Edgar Allan Poe In The Cask of Amontillado, Edgar Allen Poe manipulates the story to be the way he wants it to be by using the point of view of the narrator, the setting, and a common monotonous sentiment throughout the story. Poe is successful in maintaining a spirit of perverseness. The point of view plays a very important role in influencing the reader's perception of the story. The first line of the story is a good example of how the narrator attempts to bring the reader to his side, right from the start. “The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as best I could, but when he ventured upon insult, I vowed revenge” (101). Montresor, the narrator of the story, immediately tries to win the reader to his side, by telling him/her that Fortunato has “ventured upon insult,” and apparently crossed the line. This attempt is clever, but the reader never gets a sense of what Fortunato has actually done to the narrator, or whether Montresor is creating it in his own mind. The point of view of the story can also affect the emotional attachment that the reader gets, or fails to get, in this case, for a given character. When a reader is involved in a story, the point of view from where the story is being told is crucial to the feelings the reader has. In this story, Montresor dominates the progression of the story in every regard. This being the case, it is difficult for the reader to develop a liking for another character, unless Montresor...
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...“Revenge is a dish best served cold”. This is a quote I am sure Edgar Allen Poe has herd after reading his short story “The Cask of Amontillado”. “The Cask of Amontillado” is the story of man, Montresor, and his brutal revenge against his former friend, Fortunato, who had insulted him. Poe’s story is riddled with examples of dramatic, verbal and situational irony which highlight the brutal revenge and brings humor into the story. Dramatic irony occurs when the reader knows something that one of the characters does not. Such is the case in “The Cask of Amontillado” as the story begins with Montresor stating “The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could; but when he ventured upon insult, I vowed revenge”(510). This statement sets up dramatic irony throughout the story as the reader knows Montresor has sworn revenge on Forunato, while Fortunato believes they are still friends. This irony is evident through the whole story as Montresor pretends to be friends luring Fortunato to his cellar where he would eventually trap and kill him. The irony enhances the brutality of the murder as the reader knows throughout Montresor is planning some revenge while Fortunato believes he is going to sample his friends wine. Secondly Poe weaves verbal irony, a statement in which the meaning that a speaker employs is sharply different from the meaning that is ostensibly expressed, throughout to add humor to the story. The story is filled with verbal irony as Montresor is planning...
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...Edgar Allen Poe’s notorious drug and alcohol abuse combined with his dysfunctional and unsupportive family played a significant role in the development of Poe’s unique writing styles and topics. Edgar Allen Poe was born January 19, 1809, in Boston, Massachusetts. His mother, Elizabeth Arnold Poe was a British actress. His father, David Poe Jr. was an actor from Baltimore. Edgar Allen Poe had two other siblings, a brother named William and a sister named Rosalie. Poe did not have a close relationship with his parents; they were a part of his life for a short amount of time. His father abandoned his wife and children, a few years later Elizabeth contracted tuberculosis. (“Edgar Allan Poe.” Poetry Foundation.) She was the first of Poe’s many...
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