Cask Of Amontillado - Revenge

4 Pages 1080 Words

Revenge and Pride can be very dangerous things
In “ The Cask of Amontillado” revenge and pride are played out in true Poe style. Here one man, Montresor plots a horrible revenge on another, Fortunato. This event is even more horrible by the fact that vengeance is being taken when no real offense had been given. All that is told is that Fortunato has done a grievous wrong to Montresor and his family. Fortunato is totally self-absorbed with himself and his pride in his knowledge of fine wines. If one is a lover of horror stories this is one that they will need to read. Poe’s usage of his standard gothic style, with symbolism, irony and foreshadowing makes this a true horror story.
Montresor has a strong hatred for Fortunato. His plan is to use his victims pride in his connoisseurship of fine wine, to lure him into the catacombs to taste some non-existent Amontillado. As they go into the catacombs it is very damp and cold. Fortunato questions Montresor about all the white hanging form the walls and ceilings, his response is that it is just niter with spider webs. As the two men progress deeper into the dark winding and very dreary tunnels, piles of bones begin to appear presumably Montresor’s ancestors. By leading fortunate into the catacombs the seen is set. No one will be able to hear his cries for help. This also shows that Montresors must be a little mad.
The conflict is largely internal, because Montresor has a fierce hatred that Fortunato is unaware of when Montresor chains Fortunato to the wall and begins to layer the bricks. It is at this point that the reader may ask themselves if this is really about to happen.
The conclusion lets us know that Montresor was never punished for this crime. Fifty years has passed and he is an old man telling the story on his deathbed. The true horror is that Fortunato died a terrible death, utterly alone, and his killer was never brought to justice in the legal se...