Cask Of Amontillado Montresor Character Traits

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Friendly Gesture, Unfriendly Death Throughout a human’s lifetime, he or she will face experiences that can affect the development of his or her character. In Edgar Allen Poe’s short story, “The Cask of Amontillado,” Montresor is the narrator and main character throughout the story that faces an experience that changes his viewpoint on his former friend, Fortunato. Although Fortunato is not aware of Montresor’s issues towards him, he soon finds out the true level of their friendship. Throughout the short story of “The Cask of Amontillado,” Montresor portrays the characteristics of vengeance, manipulation, and lack of sympathy towards his “frenemy,” Fortunato, to show the significance of his ruthless character. In the short story “The Cask …show more content…

Montresor falsely shows the emotion of actually being sympathetic; however, he is just manipulating Fortunato into believing that Montresor actually cares about him. Montresor states in the story, “I heard only a soft, low sound, a half-cry of fear. My heart grew sick; it must have been the cold” (Poe 2010). Montresor was fully aware that Fortunato was not crying because he was cold; however, he was crying because he realized that Montresor was burying him alive. This statement shows irony in proving that Montresor feels no sympathy for his malevolent actions. In 2016, a literary critic says, “Moreover, Montresor does not appear to be remorseful; his detailed recollection of every evil laugh and taunt underlies cruel arrogance, not remorse” (“The Cask of Amontillado,” 2016, p. 1). Throughout “The Cask of Amontillado,” Montresor continually states that he gives Fortunato no reason to doubt his mischievous actions, and he says statements to him to believe that he is genuinely happy to have his presence in the palace. However, Fortunato does believe his scheming plan. With Montresor’s motive of claiming to be sympathetic, his actions help the reader understand his characteristic of being unsympathetic while showing no remorse towards

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