...Edgar Allan Poe’s short story “The Cask of Amontillado” revolves around the vengeful Montresor, who after being insulted by his friend Fortunato one too many times, decides to retaliate. He does so by manipulating Fortunato into following him deep into his underground vaults in order to trap and entomb behind a wall of quickly placed cement. At first glance, this story reads as a straightforward, disturbing tale of revenge. However, when looking deeper at the actions of the character and the ironic undertones of the story, the theme of pride becomes very apparent. In “The Cask of Amontillado” Poe displays how a person’s pride can lead to their ultimate downfall. “The Cask of Amontillado” is shrouded in dramatic and verbal irony. Tension build as the reader, knowing that Montresor is full of bad intention, has no choice but to sit and watch Fortunato’s fate unfold. Throughout the story Montresor, feigning concern for Fortunato’s health,...
Words: 692 - Pages: 3
...CJ Loehner Eng. 210 Tina Crossgrove 9/19/13 Montresor: Criminal or Hero? “Amontillado” a type of sherry wine that cost a man his life and all because he had a deceptive friend who fools him into thinking he needed some wine tasted. Edgar Allen Poe uses many types of literary devices in his writing to give his readers an enjoyable story to read. One of the devices is double entendre. One of the finest examples of this writing technique is in Edger Allan Poe’s “Cask of Amontillado”. In Poe’s short story we meet the interesting character of Montresor, a rich man who is out for revenge. Revenge most people would not even consider worth killing someone over. Not only does he have this revenge, Montresor is not much of a man for he does not want to fight this battle fairly. Actually, he is a two-faced person who is friendly and caring to Fortunato’s face while planning on killing him the entire time. During this story Montresor sometimes speaks using a double entendre. A double entendre is when you say one thing but mean something altogether different. When one realizes this it makes it hard to understand and causes one to wonder if Montresor can be trusted as a narrator. Edger Allan Poe’s use of this literary device makes one wonder if the reader can really trust what Montresor has to say, an if he is a reliable narrator or not. The act of getting revenge on someone is one of the oldest actions taken throughout the history of mankind. Revenge is harming somebody...
Words: 2419 - Pages: 10
...In the story "The Cask of Amontillado," by Edgar Allen Poe, Montressor is not a reliable narrator. Readers are not supposed to trust Montressor’s account of events, because he demonstrates that the information he provides about himself and what happens in the story is to be suspected. One reason Montressor’s account of events is not to be trusted is that his view is likely to be bias, as he is the one who commits the murder of Fortunato. Another reason Montressor’s reccollection of events is not to be trusted, is because 50 years have passed since he committed the murder. Montressor’s view of the events between himself and Fortunato are bias. Montressor feels he is justified in the murder because Fortunato has injured him many times, however Montressor never gives the reader a specific example of how he has injured him. The bias in Montressor’s story makes his whole account of events unreliable because Montressor could have easily made up the Fortunato has injured him many times, without input from a third party, readers can not know if Montressor is being truthful or not. The truth may also have been skewed because so much time has passed since the events actually unfolded. Readers are told that 50 years has gone by since Montressor murdered Forunato. Over the 50 years it is likely that Montressor justified his actions in his own mind, more and more, as time passed, Montressor also has likely forgotten exactly how the events unfolded, and has modified his story...
Words: 325 - Pages: 2
