Hero In The Cask Of Amontillado

Montresor, the main character of this short story, is clearly an antihero. An antihero is a main character who falls short to meet the characteristics of a standard hero. The qualities Montressor possesses are being kind for the wrong reason, evilness, and slyness. None of these in which describe a true hero. The story is told in first person and narrated by Montresor. It is clear to In "The Cask of Amontillado," Edgar Allan Poe portrays Montresor as an antihero to show how revenge can show a person’s true colors.

To begin with, it is evident Montresor is showing a generous amount of kindness. Leading up to the trap Montresor ironically tries to act as if he cares about Fortunato’s safety and wellbeing. Montresor expresses that he does not

Also, the reader does not fully get an idea of the things Fortunato did to hurt him. Montresor makes Fortunato think he needs more to drink. Although Montresor knows Fortunato is drunk already, he continues to persuade him to drink more. Montressor says, “Here I knocked off the neck of a bottle which I drew from a long row of its fellows that lay upon the mould “Drink,” I said, presenting him the wine (Poe 110). Montresor willingly allows Forunato to keep drinking. He hands Fortunato wine in hopes of making him too drunk to realize what is going on when he buries him. Montresor buries Fortunato alive without his knowing. Montresor lures Fortunato into the recess and begins layering bricks to close up the wall. Poe writes, “I had scarcely laid the first tier of the masonry when I discovered that the intoxication of Fortunato had in great measure worn off. The earliest indication I had of this was a low moaning cry from the depth of the recess” (112). As Montresor finishes the first lay of brick he hears Fortunato cry out and at this point he realizes Fortunato is not as drunk as he was on the walk down there and that he must hurry. It leaves the reader to question if Montresor includes this in because he feels