Avignon Cathedral

1120 Words3 Pages

I believe that the narrator's purpose of writing this short story was to indirectly inform the reader about the author's feelings when the author wrote the story. I believe that when the narrator states, "It must be understood that neither by word nor deed had I given Fortunato cause to doubt my good will. I continued, as was my wont, to smile in his face, and he did not perceive that my smile now was at the thought of his immolation. He had a weak point - this Fortunato - although in other regards he was a man to be respected and even feared. He prided himself on his connoisseurship in wine," the narrator is tying to convey many feelings to the audience, including sorrow and regret. I believe that the narrator is trying to show the audience …show more content…

The Avignon Cathedral was built in Avignon and was built by Roman Catholics. Wealthy Roman Catholics would commonly build catacombs beneath their estates. Avignon is on the left bank of the Rhône River and Chemin du Halage is the name of a street very close to the Rhône River. I believe that this road was named after a wealthy family that once lived there, the Chemin Family. I believe that this family lived in Avignon because there are many immigration records with the name from France. I believe that the Chemins were a Roman Catholic family who built a catacomb beneath their estate. Here, next to the Rhône River, would be an ideal place for a catacomb similar to what was stated by the narrator when speaking to Fortunato, "'The vaults are insufferably damp. They are encrusted with nitre [or salt deposits].'" Between 1309 and 1377, seven successive popes resided in Avignon was a Papal State which means that it was under the direct rule of the pope. The Pont Saint-Bénézet was a bridge that spanned across the the Rhône River. In 1225 CE, this bridge was destroyed during the Albigensian Crusade when Louis VIII of France reigned down upon Avignon. However, it was later rebuilt at a huge cost and, due to the cost of maintenance, was abandoned to rot. I believe that the narrator is Pope Louis VIII of France, the pope at the time of the time of the Albigensian Crusade. I believe that Pope Louis VIII was in Avignon at the time and was emotionally distraught, as the Pont Saint-Bénézet had huge amounts of emotional value to him construction. Pont Saint-Bénézet was inspired by Saint Bénézet, a shepherd boy who was with his flock one day and heard the voice of Jesus Christ. He then asked him to build a bridge across the river and he lifting a huge block of stone to convince the people of the time to help him do so. I believe that when the Pont Saint-Bénézet was destroyed, Pope Louis VIII felt as though that the

Open Document