Poe's The Cask Of Amontillado

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Poe’s “The Cask Of Amontillado”

Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado” is a story about revenge and the workings of the

twisted mind of a man who is fixed on it. In this short story, there are many examples of

symbolism and foreshadowing. The theme that is prevalent is man’s domination of his

fortune which has been unkind to him.

Edgar Allen Poe utilizes the characters, Montressor and Fortunato, to represent

two distinct psychological entities in his short story, "The Cask of Amontillado."

Montressor, who represents the human emotion of revenge, portrays an angry man who

will stop at nothing to seek revenge on his friend, Fortunato, who insulted and humiliated

him. Fortunato, on the other hand, represents the human emotion of pride. Because he

insists that he is the only one who can tell the difference between "Amontillado and

Sherry," he ultimately sets himself up for his own demise.

Montressor, like many villains who prey on the faults and weaknesses of their

victims, realizes early on in his plot to kill Fortunato, that his friend's passion for wine

will be the most effective way to seize him down into the vaults where he intends to bury

him. He nonchalantly mentions to Fortunato that he has purchased a bottle of wine at the

carnival, but is unsure if the wine is Amontillado or an imposter. He tells Fortunato that

he is going to ask Luchresi, a proclaimed vintage wine connoisseur, to decipher the type

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of wine in the bottle. Montressor knows that Fortunato's pride will not allow him to let

Luchresi test the wine. Fortunato insists that he is the only one that can accurately tell

what type of wine was purchased, and therefore insists on tasting the wine himself.

Montressor acts surprised by his friend's decision and even acts sympathetic towards

Fortunato's failing health issues, but deep down he knows that his plot is working e...