Cask Of Amontillado Analysis Essay

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Pages: 2

“Cask of Amontillado “

Lured through the love of wine, it ends in a premature demise.

“Cask of Amontillado” (sometimes spelled, “The Casque of Amontillado”), by Edgar

Allen Poe, was first published in the November 1846 issue of Godey's Lady's Book,

which is, at that time, the most popular periodical in America. It is his last, and some

say greatest, short story. In this story Montresor tricks Fortunator into following him to

the catacombs beneath his family home, to sample a prized wine. Amontillado is a tale

of addiction, seeking vengeance in support of a family motto: "Nemo me impune

lacessit." ("No one assails me with impunity."), then torture and last murder.

Poe has a unique and dark way of writing. Poe literary scholars consider his
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His mysterious style of writing appeals to emotion

and drama. His stories tend to have the same recurring theme of death. First this story

is a classic example of the use of an unreliable narrator. Agers 2

For example, the story opens with the first person narrator (Montresor). Montresor tells

his tale of revenge smugly, as he/Poe invites the reader to applaud Montresor’s

cleverness. Montresor speaks of his plan to kill Fortunato. Why does Montresor want

revenge on Fortunato? Why does the insult push Montresor over the edge?

Brilliantly Poe leaves out the answer to these questions. A tactic Poe brilliantly uses, purposefully leaving out the information in order to create suspense and mystery. Even

though Poe leaves out what the insult was Fortunato inflicted on Montresor, we do know

that it was bad enough to result in Fortunato’s death. Poe uses symbolic words. The

play on words of the character’s names are the best example of verbal irony within this

story. The actual meaning behind the word Fortunato is the fated one or the fortunate

one. In the story, Fortunato is fated by Montresor but ironically not fortunate.