Examples Of Dramatic Irony In The Cask Of Amontillado

The story “The Cask of Amontillado" is the nature of insult that evoked revenge which ends in horrible murder. There is ironic viewpoint continues on every set of the story. Firstly, when Montresor met Fortunato, he smiled at Fortunato. No one can think that the smile of kindness and friendliness, in reality, is the evil smile. In addition, Montresor's first words to him were "you are luckily met" (Poe 209). This sentence ironically reveal is true that in a short time of period, Fortunato will be bury alive. Firstly, the setting is placed during Venice’s Carnival where the characters meet. Carnival is supposed to be a time of celebration and happiness for everybody. However, in the story, it is a time for revenge and death.The carnival setting ironically suggests a time for crime in the flesh.

The festival gives Montresor opportunity to seek his sacrificial victim and to get revenge that he vowed.

In addition, a type of dramatic irony can see in the story. For example, Fortunato is dressed as a jester in the carnival. "The man wore motley. He had on a tight-fitting parti-striped dress, and his head was surmounted by the conical cap and bells," (Poe 208). His costume suggests that he is playing the fool and what an irony that Montresor actually treat him one.On the other hand, Montresor is dressed in a black-colored cloak and has his face covered with a black mask, which symbolizes the death of devil. These examples demonstrate Fortunato’s ironic misfortunes that lead to his ultimate death. Lastly, the end of the story is tragic because Fortunate keeps drinking wine even with a bad cough. “I drink,”he said, “ to the buried that repose around us,”(Poe 210). He drinks to the dead in the vault, and end up dead. I think Fortunato name itself is an irony. This name in Italian is for someone about to be walled up in the

tomb. In conclusion, the never-ending use of irony reflect drinking of the wine to warmth Fortunato so that he can continue his journey to his death, the jingling of the bells make announcing of his death, the carnival atmosphere versus the horror, the irony of Fortunato's name, these all elements in setting of story represent the irony and contribute to the complete unity of this perfect dark, horror short story.