The Vengeful Montressor of The Cask of Amontillado

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The Vengeful Montressor of The Cask of Amontillado

The story "The Cask of Amontillado" by Edgar Allan Poe is a story of murder and revenge. What is disturbing about this story is the lengths to which Montressor goes to gain this revenge. The statement "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" (1314) tells much about the character Montressor. In this essay, I intend to show that this statement and others in the story indicate that Montressor was vengeful for past injustices and calculating in his plans to kill Fortunato. He was cold hearted enough to carry out these plans. This is the truth revealed about Montresor.

The first paragraph of the story tells us so much about Montressor's personality. The statement "At length I would be avenged; this was a point definitely settled..."(1314) shows that forgiveness is not an option for Montressor. The statement "...when he ventured upon insult, I vowed revenge" (1314) shows that his main focus is to avenge the wrong doings of Fortunato. In fact, there is no other choice for him as the motto of his family crest states, "No one wounds me with impunity" (1317). So, not only is the focus of his life revenge; but revenge has been the focus of his entire family, for generations.

The last part of the statement says "...but the very definitiveness with which it was resolved precluded the idea of risk" (1314). This statement shows that not only was Montressor going to have his revenge; but, he would do so in such a calculating and premeditated way that he would be certain not to get caught. The first step would be to make sure that there would be no witness...

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...essor began the task of building a wall to close Fortunato in. This type of death was a calculating choice by Montressor. It must take time to build a wall of eleven tiers. Time for Fortunato to realize that he was going to die a slow and horrible death.

In conclusion, the truth revealed about Montressor in the statement "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" (1314) is that he is a vengeful, calculating and cold- blooded killer. The reader is never told what injustices Fortunato inflicted upon him; however, it does not matter. There is not much, which could justify this type of torture. Montressor made sure he had the last work in this, their last, encounter.

Work Cited

Poe, Allan, Edgar. The Cask of Amontillado (Mass Market Paperbacks, 1990

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