Describing The Mood in “The Cask of Amontillado”.
In Edgar Allan Poe’s story, The Cask of Amontillado, the mood in the story is set in a very disturbing way. It’s in such a mood because Montresor plans out revenge on Fortunato, attempting to get away with murder. Montresor states, “The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult, I vowed revenge.” (Poe 83). This means that Fortunato has done things to Montresor before that he could handle, but when he insulted Montresor, Montresor wanted revenge. He wanted revenge due to the insult and the saying of his family motto, which is “Nemo me impune lacessit”. Which means “No one attacks me with impunity” in Latin. The disturbing mood is something that can send a chill through the reader’s spine, or give them a thrill. Specific details can create the disturbing mood, like when Poe describes the catacombs. The specific details that Poe gives can also give the reader a visualization of what the catacombs look like, even if it’s only literature, and leave the reader with questions. Key details that create this is the clothes that Fortunato and Montresor are wearing, the period of time the story takes place, and the setting. The actions of characters can also affect the mood and tone of the story. One of the …show more content…
As Fortunato says, “... Yes, the Amontillado. But is it not getting late? Will not they be awaiting us at the palazzo, the Lady Fortunato and the rest? Let us be gone.”. (Poe 89). Montresor then replies “Yes, let us be gone”. (Poe 89). Leaving Fortunato buried alive in a wall until he had suffocated in there. Fifty years later, Montresor mentions “For the half of a century no mortal has disturbed them.”. (Poe 90). Meaning no-one has found out about the murder for 50 years, with Montresor succeeding with his