Essay on The cask of Amontillado

Submitted By englishnicholas
Words: 841
Pages: 4

Analyzing theme revenge in “The Cask of the Amontillado”

The Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allan Poe the central idea embodied in this literary work is revenge. Vengeance is something that is borne out of sheer anger on a person or persons due to immense insults, abuse or injury done. Revenge makes a person thoughts and action cling towards anger and hatred. Ultimately make wrong decision. Revenge is portrayed and repeated several times, In the Edgar Allan Poe’s story the author states “The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult I vowed revenge” (Poe. 733). Montresor meant that he tried to bear all the injuries done to him but when it turned to insults he could not bear it anymore and he seek out revenge. The idea of the revenge is relished and so much so that in the opening paragraph, Montresor says he would precluded the idea of risk and punish with impunity and “At length I would be avenged” (Poe. 733). We learn in the story that revenge is relished and seek out constantly to be avenged and justified in a crazy person mind. Edgar Allan Poe life was a dark, lonely and sad one. He ultimately dies at a very young. From All his short stories and poetry are based on his own life and depicts mostly of his earlier up bringing which was sad, unhappy and dark due to this he wrote topics about guilt, rage, sorrow, madness , fear and revenge. “From childhood’s hour I have not been as others were I have not seen as others saw-“. As depicted in own words his life dark and often haunting tales. Earlier on he had a very unusual life; father left his mother at the age of two and his mother dies when he was at tenders’ age of three. He was adopted by the John & Frances Allan and separated from his sibling. He did not have good relationship with his foster father that made him fond of writing but due to his father’s disapproval of his passion of writing career, which made him hold an ideas of revenge against his step father. This led him to write the Story Cask of Amontillado. He depicts himself as Montresor and his foster father as Forunato. He says “nemo me impune lacessit” (Poe. 735) which means “No one can insult me without punishment. Montresor was a sharp individual; he took the Fortunato in his catacomb by saying “I have received a pipe of Amontillado, and I have my doubts” (Poe.733). Montesor knew that Fortunato was expert in identifying wine and he can do anything to taste that wine. Montresor was successful in taking Fortunato’s murder. Fortunato was intoxicated so badly that he did not realized that Montresor was telling lie him about the Amontillado. Fortunato was eager to reach the vault; he says “come let’s go to your vault” (Poe. 734). The vault was so deep that Fortunato started coughing and again Montresor played his trick and says “come, we will go back, your health is precious;” Fortunato replied” enough, the cough is a mere nothing; it will not kill me. I shall not die of a cough” (Poe. 735). Montresor did not want fortunate to die like this; otherwise his revenge will not be successful. Montresor wanted to kill him with his hand not by a