In the cask of amontillado. Poe's Stories The Cask of Amontillado Summary & Analysis 2022-12-11
In the cask of amontillado Rating:
5,4/10
1229
reviews
In Edgar Allan Poe's short story "The Cask of Amontillado," the narrator, Montresor, seeks revenge against his acquaintance, Fortunato, for an unspecified injury. Montresor lures Fortunato into the catacombs beneath his family's palazzo, claiming that he has purchased a cask of rare Amontillado sherry and needs Fortunato's expertise to verify its authenticity.
As they descend deeper into the catacombs, Fortunato's health deteriorates due to a cold and his excessive drinking. Montresor takes advantage of Fortunato's weakened state and eventually chains him to the wall, leaving him to die as he seals the entrance with bricks.
The theme of revenge is central to the story, as Montresor clearly states his intention to avenge the injury inflicted upon him by Fortunato. However, the true nature of the injury is never revealed, leaving the reader to wonder what could possibly justify such a cruel and calculated act of revenge.
The setting of the story, the dark and cramped catacombs beneath the palazzo, adds to the ominous and foreboding atmosphere. The use of irony is also prominent in the story, as Fortunato's name, which means "fortunate" in Italian, belies his unfortunate fate.
Poe's writing style, characterized by its use of Gothic elements and psychological depth, adds to the unsettling nature of the story. The narrative voice of Montresor, who is unrepentant and matter-of-fact about his actions, adds to the disturbing tone of the story.
Overall, "The Cask of Amontillado" is a haunting tale of revenge and its consequences. Its themes of betrayal, manipulation, and the corrupting influence of power will continue to resonate with readers long after the story has ended.
The Cask of Amontillado Summary
They are for Disqus, Facebook, Twitter and Google. The story begins in the midst of the celebration, presumably in a public place. Now that Montresor has successfully tricked and chained up his friend, he starts to build a brick wall using stone and mortar to cover the entrance of the little niche. Does he regret his actions?. Psychological Aspects of Fortunato and Montressor The unknowing Fortunato being lured by the calculating executor of vengeance, the manipulative Montresor.
What differs from this act of confession is the lack of repentance expressed in the tone of the protagonist Montresor. The tone of the tale is cold and calculated, as the narrator openly shares his intent of revenge from the outset. Luchesi, another wine expert, is an acquaintance of Montresor's and Fortunato's. As the plot progresses, his host proceeds to ply him with more drink. Poe's works are at least implicitly nihilistic, given that he repeatedly shows the most amoral of characters acting out their fantasies without regard for the lives and feelings of others. It was succeeded by a sad voice, which I had difficulty in recognizing as that of the noble Fortunato. The first line of the story immediately tells us who the intended victim is, what he did to the narrator though in a purposely vague manner , and what Montresor wants.
Latest answer posted January 26, 2011, 6:11 pm UTC 3 educator answers Montresor, telling the reader that his servants will not be at the house precisely because he has ordered them not to leave, leads Fortunato on. Its walls had been lined with human remains, piled to the vault overhead, in the fashion of the great catacombs of Paris. The tombs are another setting common to the Gothic novel. He hurt my feelings a thousand times during the years of my childhood. As Montresor finishes the topmost row of stones, Fortunato wails, "For the love of God, Montresor! While I may have a bias being a fan of Poe and enjoy reading what others have to say in regards to his work, I believe this analysis is extremely clear and insightful.
Poe's Stories The Cask of Amontillado Summary & Analysis
Carnival season provides him with an excellent opportunity to carry out his plans. At length I would be avenged; this was a point definitely, settled—but the very definitiveness with which it was resolved precluded the idea of risk. He said, "Well, you have played a good joke on me. Though Fortunato does not show any signs of distress until his horrific end, it is the reader that experiences these feelings described by Cavallaro. Fortunato follows Montresor deeper and deeper into the catacombs, his inebriation preventing him from picking up on several ominous clues as to his fate. Under the bones was a basket of stone blocks, some cement and a small shovel.
Set in Italy, during carnival season, the two men meet on the streets amid the celebration, where Montresor lures Fortunato back to his home with the promise of tasting and verifying the authenticity of a rare Italian sherry called Amontillado. This playful tone evokes the imagination while implicating the reader into the role of a co-conspirator. We will have many a rich laugh about it at the palazzo—he! The location is an unidentified time in Italy, and the observance of carnival is usually just before Lent, which is a time of sacrifice and repentance in the Catholic Church. The time of the story is evening, the place Italy during a carnival. We want to hear from you.
Fortunato displays no uneasiness in Montresor's company and is unaware that his friend is plotting against him. I looked into the tiny room, where he was still screaming. The wine is in my wine cellar, underneath the palace. Click on one image and a box appears. As I began the fourth row, I heard Fortunato begin to shake the chains that held him to the wall. In other ways Poe keeps the idea of the Christian God in the foreground. Montresor arrived home to an empty house just as he had planned.
Ironically, Fortunato seems to regain his sobriety, or at least, Montresor thinks he does. The narrator then proceeds to lure him into place for his death using the cask of expensive wine in the story's title. You were not to be found, and I was fearful of losing a bargain. Poe does not appear interested in answering the question, although he surely knew that he was raising it and knew that he had placed the answer tantalizingly out of reach. The question remains: Was Montresor ever sorry for what he did? Even after Montresor has led him into the niche and chained him, Fortunato's reaction is one of complete bewilderment. In this respect, setting the story during Carnival allows Poe to enact revenge, with disregard to the immoral act of murder. Therefore, Fortunato might consider cheating Montresor out of the Amontillado by telling him it is only sherry so that he can buy the wine himself.
Fortunato married a rich and beautiful woman who gave him sons. New York: Harper Perennial. The narrator of "Amontillado" suggests they drink some Medoc to protect them from the elements. Montresor may be inventing them for the pleasure of hinting at what he intends to do to Fortunato. It must be understood that neither by word nor deed had I given Fortunato cause to doubt my good will. I believed him and I bought it from him.
Meeting Fortunato in the street one evening, Montresor takes the opportunity to lure his friend into the deepest catacombs beneath his palazzo, and there he chains Fortunato to the wall of a small alcove, seals him in behind a new brick wall, which he builds even as Fortunato begs for mercy, and leaves him to die. Surely he does not mean that he is acting for the love of God; instead, he is blatantly and defiantly rejecting it. Items such as bells tied to the limbs of a corpse to signal the outside were not uncommon. He already appears to be drunk. There came forth in return only a jingling of the bells. My wife and my friends will be waiting for us. New York City: 0-8160-4161-X.
