Cask Of Amontillado

Edgar Allen Poe can be considered the father of the dark romanticism and valued the human subjectivity (Prestwood). According to the book Diagnosing Romanticism" : Romantics was often perceived as both curse and blessing, as encouraging an egocentrism, however also motivating a drive to artistic production that promises a form of existential therapy, a transformative process of discovery that will allow the subject to merge with wider phenomena outside the self (Ahern, p.p 70). It is impossible not to be engaged in his short story “The cask of Amontillado.” This essay will discuss how romanticism genre is embedded perfectly on Poe’s short story and also analyze the main characters of the fictional story. The explicit theme of this ironic

He knows exactly what he wants: kill Fortunato. He does not change his idea throughout the story, although sometimes he does seem concerned with Fortunato’s cough, but his fake chivalry is all part of his plan. He is complex character, and never revealed the exact reason of why he wants to kill Fortunato. He uses powerful emotion like anger and terror; and in an act of madness rebels against the man, who insulted him. It can be seen again romanticism elements: rebellion and powerful emotions. He risks all, to accomplish his madness. Psychologically, the main character is classified as perverse: has no sense of guilt or anguish; maintains a strong relationship with reality; his cognitive functions are preserved; Montresor faithfully follows the structure of the perverse act (Roan State Community

He chains Fortunato to his waist and Montresor begins laying tiers of masonry with the plans of blocking him forever in that damp niche. The sounds describes are of the furious vibrations of chains; the emotions describe Fortunato’s low moaning cry from the depth of recess (Poe). This moment of great textual tension: horrendous cries of Fortunato; then a "muffled laughter," which terrified Montresor, followed by Fortunato’s expression of self-control: “[…] a very good joke, indeed-an excellent jest” (Poe). At the mercy of a dark and evil force, Montresor explored the terror on Fortunato. He says:” For a brief moment I hesitated, I trembled. Unsheathing my rapier, I began to grope with it about the recess; but the thought of an instant reassured me” (Poe, p.p 701). With madness and cold blooded, Montresor he executes his plans, whatsoever regretless, and he narrates it: “I forced the last stone into its position. I plastered it. Against the new masonry I re-erected the old rampart of bone” (Poe). At the end of the story he says: For the half of a century no mortal has disturbed them (bones). Rest in peace” (Poe). Although Montresor is not a “real” hero, he does kill the person and gets away with it, unpunished, making him a victorious character.

The Cask of Amontillado has all the characteristics of romanticism. It is well written and makes the reader escape