Fortunato’s Doom
In ‘The Cask of Amontillado,” Edgar Allen Poe uses different methods on Fortunato to lure him into going to the catacombs where he would leave him for death. The Carnival was where Montresor started his evil plan by using alcohol, reverse psychology and the testing of Fortunato’s ego by comparing Luchresi connoisseurship to his. Montresor’s plan was to manipulate and play with Fortunato to let him gain his trust as a friend and then murder him.
Montresor made sure he approached Fortunato at the seemingly packed carnival where disguise and event were very important with his plan, he made sure his first attempt to lure Fortunato would be where people were drunk so no one would realize Montresor and Fortunato’s conversation nor their absence. Drunken Fortunato greeted Montresor with open arms as if he was happy to see him. “He accosted me with excessive warmth, for he had been drinking much.” (Poe 1) Montresor’s manipulation led Fortunato to believe that he was no more than a friend so when Montresor asked for his taste on his wine and offered that if he was unable to do it he would ask Luchresi, who was Fortunato’s nemesis, Poe used reverse psychology as Montresor tempted Fortunato
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and he responded with great anxiety “Luchresi cannot tell Amontillado from Sherry.” (Poe 2) Because of Fortunato’s ego, when Montresor brings up Luchresi he shuts him down and pushes for him to continue their journey. Because of Fortunato’s big ego he tried to prove to Montresor that he was better than Luchresi. Poe did not make it clear why Fortunato and Luchresi had issues in their relationship, but it was very clear that some type of jealousy and hatred was present. Montresor’s next step in his plan was to amuse Fortunato with more wine to get him more drunk. As they made their journey down to the catacombs, Montresor kept forcing Fortunato to relax and enjoy his wine. This was to allow him to lose sensibility of what Montresor had planned. Poe use of insincerity by allowing Montresor to induce more alcohol to Fortunato “Drink,” ‘He raised it to his lips with a leer.’ (Poe 3) Fortunato’s drinking problem was the doom that made him such an easy prey to Montresor which he used to his advantage. Before they reached in the catacombs Fortunato was already walking drunkenly and losing consciousness of his surroundings. This gave Montresor the upper hand to take advantage of Fortunato. Reverse Psychology was used a lot by Montresor, as he tricked Fortunato when accompanying him down to the catacombs, Montresor did this by comparing Fortunato’s work to Luchresi which ultimately pushed Fortunato to want to see the Amontillado more.
He was also very interested in Fortunato’s cough when he was in the catacombs, Poe displayed strong irony as Montresor played hypocrite by making Fortunato think he cares about his cough “The nitre! Come, we will go back ere it is too late, Your cough” This is where Montresor tries to talk Fortunato out of going deeper into the catacomb but he knew that Fortunato was so determined to see the Amontillado that he would protest. Fortunato was unaware of Montresor’s plan, and therefore fell victim to Montresor’s sneaky
plans. Montresor used alcohol, reverse psychology and testing of ego to lure Fortunato into the catacomb which ultimately led to his death. Fortunato fell victim to this because of his uncontrollable drinking and his big ego that he had towards Luchresi. He also trusted Montresor as a friend which is why he never caught on to Montresor’s comments about his upcoming death. Montresor made sure he gained Fortunato trust and loyalty so he would not hesitate or question any of his plans. In the end, Montresor killed Fortunato in the catacombs, and covered the entrance to the vaults so no one would find Fortunato. Work Cited Poe, Edgar Allen. “The Cask of Amontillado.” PoeStories.com, Web. 02 Feb. 2015
A main theme presented in “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe is that Montresor shows obsession with the murder of fortunato. This is exemplified by Montresor’s precise planning, carefulness and slowness of speed in the process.
Montresor does not want Fortunato to die from anything other than his own plan of slow death by asphyxiation. Symbolism in "The Cask of Amontillado" This story by Poe has numerous examples of symbolism. For example, the manner in which Fortunato is dressed is ironic for a man with his societal prominence.
Have you ever met someone so clever, determined, and cruel to leave a man to die over an insult? Montresor is the perfect example of these character traits. In “The Cask of Amontillado”, by Edgar Allan Poe, Montresor uses all of these character traits to get revenge on Fortunado for insulting his family name. Montresor’s clever planning, determination for revenge, and cruel murder are the perfect combination for his unequaled revenge.
The protagonists Montresor wants to get back at Fortunato for deeply insulting him and Montresor vows for revenge. During the fall carnival, he sees his opportunity and is quick to pounce on this and put his plan into place. “With Fortunato intoxicated and falling and stumbling all over the place Montresor knows that the time is now” (Russell 211). Montresor knows Fortunato’s weakness for wine and Montresor tells him he found Amontillado a very rare wine and it is in his vault. Montresor knows how far Fortunato will go for wine as rare as Amontillado and that is what eventually leads to his tormented and revengeful death. Edgar Allan Poe also gives lots of scenes that foreshadow to the future and the plotting about the death of Fortunato and the steps leading up to it. “The great example is putting Montresor into the future fifty years later telling the story and everything that went into the murder that he had committed” (Elliot 268). Poe depicts that revenge is very sweet and even fifty years later, that the deep gothic death and revenge themes still show up in Poe’s writings (Russell
In Edgar Allan Poe’s, “The Cask of Amontillado,” the main character and narrator, Montresor begins the story by expressing how he has put up with many insults from a man named Fortunato and that he has had enough and vows revenge against him. Montresor lures Fortunato into the catacombs to taste the Amontillado so as to kill him secretly. Montresor portrays in the beginning of the story that he is going to be lying to Fortunato’s face, acting one way while really thinking another. This fact indicates that Montresor is an unreliable narrator for telling the story because he lies to people he knows, gives hints that he is jealous of Fortunato, does not offer an explanation for wanting to murder Fortunato and his tone of narrating the story.
Montresor is filled with regret that he took revenge so cruelly, “My heart grew sick,” (Poe 548). He was manipulated by his own pride and became the fool in the end, rather than Fortunato. Poe displays the Fortunato as a proud man at first, however Montresor’s pride is shown when he feels the first pangs of guilt but refuses to release Fortunato. He regretted his decision to kill Fortunato, however Montresor’s pride wouldn’t allow him to stop. Poe used these moments to subtly reveal Montresor’s
Edger Allan Poe’s short story “The Cask of Amontillado” talks about how Montressor feels like he was insulted by his friend Fortunato. Also Montressor’s family motto is “Nemo me impune lacessit.”(Allan Poe 362), which means “No one insults me with impunity.”, and Montressor doesn’t want to let his family motto down so he uses it as a reason and make his revenge on Fortunato as a goal that has to be accomplished. Montressor tricks his friend Fortunato which was drunk at the moment, by asking him to follow him to his house and to check an expensive wine that he just purchased to be sure that he didn’t get tricked. Fortunato follows Montressor to his house and went down to the down stairs of Montressor’s house. When they get to the catacombs, Montressor chains up Fortunato and places him in a niche in the wall, and started to build a brick wall leaving him sealed inside to die in the catacombs.
In “The Cask of Amontillado”, the combination of the carnival and the catacomb settings contribute to the themes of revenge, and deception which the protagonist takes responsibility in. Because the story takes place during the carnival, the protagonist, Montressor, has an easier time plotting against Fortunato:
In his article “On Memory Forgetting, and Complicity in “the Cask of Amontillado”” Raymond DiSanza suggests that an act of wrongdoing is always at the heart of good horror stories. (194) DiSanza’s article on “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe describes Poe’s writing in a way I didn’t think of myself. DiSanza finds Poe’s language in this story to “taste like amontillado: smooth, slightly sweet, and appropriately chilled”. (DiSanza 195) Throughout his article he mostly talks about what possibly could have been Montresor’s motive to kill Fortunato? And why did Montresor wait fifty years to tell the story?
In summary Edgar Alan Poe uses “The Cask of Amontillado” as a story to show pride as both a motivator and as a way to achieve revenge. The story starts by telling us that Fortunato has hurt and insulted Montresor so he feels he must get revenge. He then meets Fortunato, who is dressed in jesters’ clothes for a carnival celebration. This makes Montresor more eager to invoke revenge. Montresor feels that the carnival is giving Fortunato too much enjoyment from life and needs to make Fortunato feel like he is not as important as himself which shows that both men are struggling for dominance and personal pride. Montresor then mentions that he has a barrel of “Amontillado” which is in his catacomb underneath the house. Fortunato is a wine enthusiast and wants to go and taste it because he believes he has the best knowledge of wine which shows his pri...
In Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado,” Montresor sets out on a vengeful mission that will end Fortunato’s life in an untimely fate. Montresor appeals to Fortunato’s love for wine to tempt the unsuspecting fellow to his impending doom. While Montresor tricks the foolish Fortunato frightfully, it is ultimately Fortunato’s pride that leads to his demise in the crypt. Poe uses several literary devices to foreshadow this murderous exploit of Montresor. Through the use of irony, symbolism, and imagery, the story entices readers to delve into the relationships and differences between Montresor and Fortunato.
Fortunato “takes possession” of Montresor’s arm, for which he suffers (716) in order to carry out his plan. Poe’s use of possession and suffer give the impression that Montresor is being afflicted again by Fortunato. Once Montresor reveals this meeting at this evening is no coincidence by divulging he made sure none of his attendants would be home. By giving the direct orders to be home. Poe shows us that Montresor was not respected or feared by his servants’ actions. The servants’ leaving after being given a direct order to stay does give credence to the fact that Montresor must be very methodical and unyielding to his schedule. Only once Fortunato to the catacombs does he betray his own premise. Montresor refers to Fortunato as his “poor friend” (716). At this point Poe has depicted this instigator of a “thousand injuries” as a drunken jester that can barely catch his breath at this point in the story. Now Montresor is showing some sympathy towards him. At this point the transition is complete. Where the two men stopped at the entrance to Fortunato’s tomb, this is the moment that leaves no doubt that Montresor is the villain and Fortunato is the
You were not to be found, and I was fearful of losing a bargain (Poe 332)”. This revels Montresor notices that Fortunato is not able to tell Amontillado from Sherry as he is a great wine-lover. When Montresor is coughing, Fortunato is trying to convince him to leave: “Come,” I said with decision, “ we will go back; your health is precious. You are rich, respected, admired, beloved; you are happy, as once I was”. This shows jealousy and kindness of Montresor against Fortunato at the same time that is quite sarcastic. From this perspective, Montresor envious all of the things that Fortunato has and who is not reconciled to someone surpass him in the status. He mistakenly feels that this is the injury created by Fortunato resulting in his revenge. Therefore, he blame on Fortunato for all fault that he should eradicate him as soon as possible before he become a threatening when it is too late to take any action. Additionally, he does not even regret his choice and believes everything he does is right. This is because he tries so hard to makes an effort to draw Fortunato to his trap and put down his vigilance simultaneously by
In Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado,” Montresor lures in Fortunato, using Fortunato’s knowledge of wine as a catalyst, to his own death. Fortunato “prided himself on his connoisseurship in wine,” which suggests that he would go to great lengths in search of rare subjects (Poe 250). To, perhaps, the same “‘length’” Montresor would go for vengeance (250). Fortunato’s hubric nature serves as a vice in Montresor's malicious scheme. Given an amplitude of opportunities to recede from the plot, John Freehafer asserts that “It is Fortunado, not Montresor, who is made to insist upon descending to the vaults and going down to the place of his death” (John Freehafer 316) Furthermore, Fortunato descends with the desire of proving himself greater
How simple, indeed--at least until we examine a group of irreconcilable paradoxes in the story. To begin with, the names Montresor and Fortunato are synonymous. (Hoffman 223) Secondly, we find that the motive for the crime was some unnamed insult. Motives for killing someone should be important enough to detail. Why does Poe have Montresor gloss over the motives? One view is that Montresor relates the details of the murder not to justify his actions, but as a form of confession. But if this be confession, where is the regret? Again, Poe leaves his readers mystified concerning the time and location for issuance of the narrative voice. If Montresor still lives, he must be a very old man. If so, the phantasms of his deed may have horrified him all of his life. Then why does he not seem horrified? If this be confession, then why does he seem not penitent?