The mood of a written piece of literature is the atmosphere in the writing, which are expressed through emotional situations, words, and descriptions. Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado” is a story about vengeance and murder published in 1846 and is set in Paris, France during Mardi Gras. The main uses of mood in “The Cask of Amontillado” include, but are not limited to, suspense and mystery. Poe employs several differing examples of mood in his story by expressing the mood via his invoking of irony, setting, symbolism, and characterization.
Poe adopts the setting of his story as a significant contribution in developing the mood of “The Cask of Amontillado”. The time that Poe set the story in happened to be during Mardi Gras, a holiday celebrated by eating a wide variety of unhealthy foods before fasting for the Lenten season. It was “...one evening during the supreme madness
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of the carnival season” when Poe began the story’s plot of murder (Poe 59). Poe employs this to his advantage because he understands that people are off celebrating a holiday, and one can expect that people will be intoxicated and unaware of what is actually occurring in the environment around them. Poe also invokes the Paris catacombs to his advantage by setting the murder scene itself in the underground sanctuary of bones. By plotting the murder in the catacombs, there are several clues that foreshadow Fortunato’s death to be approaching that parallel symbolism. For example, the red wine in the catacombs symbolizes death, specifically for Fortunato. As well as for setting, irony is also an extravagant contribution to the mood of the story. Poe takes irony to an extreme when incorporating it into “The Cask of Amontillado”. By taking the simplest parts that make up a story, he included irony through speech, appearances, and character names. Montresor uses the word “Amontillado” as irony to what it actually means in his perspective. Montresor sarcastically says “‘True,’ I replied; ‘the Amontillado’” when Fortunato proclaims his confusion about the amontillado, which demonstrates the irony through speech. When spoken to, Fortunato believes that the Amontillado is a sherry wine when Montresor actually uses the word to describe a pile, such as the pile of bricks and mortar waiting to bury Fortunato alive. Poe employs immense irony when developing the characters by simply placing them into costumes that reflect their character’s meaning. Montresor was placed into a black costume, which can be compared to as a symbol of death, such as the Grim Reaper. As for Fortunato, he was placed in the costume of a jester for being a fool and falling for the murder draws Montresor was pulling Fortunato into the murder scene with. Poe also weaved irony through the names of the characters in the story; Fortunato meaning fortunate (even though not), and Montresor meaning monster. Poe incorporates symbolism to be a very significant contribution to the mood of “The Cask of Amontillado” because of the impact on the overall mood of the story. The symbolism in Poe’s story has immensely impacted the mood towards the entire text. For example, the trowel is being used as a symbol of the concealment of truth in the story between Montresor and Fortunato. It is believed that Montresor and Fortunato’s families have had a long lasting feud of their wealth and job specialization, and that the trowel conceals the truth and hatred between the two families by sealing up and providing closure for each other. After revealing the truth about the meaning of the Amontillado, Montresor “uncovered a quantity of building stone and mortar. With these materials and with the aid of [his] trowel, [he] began vigorously to wall up the entrance of the niche” exemplifies the concealment of truth within the symbolism written by Poe (63). Characterization in “The Cask of Amontillado” was comprehended through the archetypes of the color red, death and rebirth, hegemony, as well as the forbidden fruit.
Edgar Allan Poe uses the color red to symbolize death through the red wine. By using color archetypes in his writing, Poe indirectly includes hints to Fortunato’s death, which the reader may not distinguish right away. As for the death and rebirth archetype, one can assume that when a Montresor or Fortunato dies, the hegemony of the two families keep alternating from one to another. The archetype of the forbidden fruit is also included within the catacombs of Paris. When Montresor is leading Fortunato through the catacombs, Montresor suggest that “we [should] go back; your health is precious” (61). Montresor uses reverse psychology to convince Fortunato to keep going by mentioning the mold and how they should not continue making Fortunato insist to continue through the hardships. The Amontillado wine symbolizes the forbidden fruit and how Fortunato will continue even though there is his hidden death waiting ahead of
him. Overall, the main moods incorporated in “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe are suspense and mystery. Poe uses irony, the setting, symbolism, and characterization all to his advantage while creating the plot of the story in ways that require utmost agility and understanding of human logic. As well as in many of Edgar Allan Poe’s pieces of literature, suspense and mystery allow the readers to draw conclusions and analyze parts of the story that Poe wished to achieve through the reader’s knowledge.
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.
Though Fortunato is an intelligent wine expert, his expertise leads him to his death. In Italian the word Fortunato means fortunate, something that he is not by the end of the story. In “The Cask of Amontillado” Edgar Allan Poe uses foreshadowing and dramatic irony and verbal irony to show Fortunato’s misfortunes which eventually lead to his death.
Set in an unspecified Italian city and an unidentified year, the Cask of Amontillado is a short story that majorly revolves on revenge. Written by the much-celebrated literary expert Edgar Allan Poe, the short story is centered on the narrator who is hell bent exerting revenge on a friend who caused him great pain.
Russ,RJ.” Symbolism In edgar Allan Poe’s ‘ The Cask Of Amontillado’.” Yahoo Voices.Yahoo, Inc.,28 April 2008. Web.17 March 2014.
“The Cask of Amontillado” is a dark piece, much like other works of Edgar Allan Poe, and features the classic unreliable narrator, identified by himself only as Montresor. This sinister central character is a cold ruthless killer that is particularly fearsome because he views murder as a necessity and kills without remorse. Montresor is a character who personifies wickedness. Poe uses this character and his morally wrong thoughts and actions to help the reader identify with aspects of the extreme personage, allowing them to examine the less savory aspects of their own. The character of Montresor detailing the glorious murder he committed is a means of communicating to the reader that vengeance and pride are moral motivators that lead to treacherous deeds and dark thoughts.
For instance, Montresor’s family crest is a serpent biting into an ankle treading upon it. The emblem is symbolic of Montresor’s response to being bitten by Fortunato’s foolish pride. The snake on the crest and the family’s motto, “No one wounds me with immunity,” both address Montresor’s seemingly inherited nature to retaliate. Another instance of symbolism in the story, is the reference to the secret society, the Freemasons. As a sign to prove his fellowship, Montresor pulls out a trowel to show his brotherhood. Ironically, this is the same trowel that will seal Fortunato’s tomb. The final major symbol in “The Cask of Amontillado,” is the Amontillado wine. The way the wine is created is through the deprivation of oxygen, the same way Fortunato is killed. The thought put into the murder portrays Montresor as a genius, but also shows the regard he has for his victim. Montresor sees his victim like a cheap bottle of sherry instead of the fine Amontillado that is revered and mature. Taking it upon himself, Montresor decides to mature Fortunato and views it as a masterpiece. The death of Fortunato is Montresor’s art (Lewis
Edgar Allen Poe’s gruesomely fascinating tale of vengeance and murder, “The Cask of Amontillado”, achieves its effect only through its usage of the first person point of view. This unusual perspective enables the reader to view the characters and conflicts through the eyes of the narrator, as he first discusses and justifies, and eventually, carries out his plans for the ruthless murder of his friend. The eerie tone and disorienting and materialistically-related setting of the story contribute to its theme of defending one’s honor and name and avenging all wrongdoings, even something so small as an insult.
Writers often use symbolism in the story to give a more vivid description rather than just saying, pictures are a perfect example. Symbolism is the art of using any object, place, name or anything that represents something rather
Poe’s first-person narration style in “The Cask of Amontillado” allows the reader to experience the story from a different level and the ability to look at the story from a different light. An unusual perspective. From the mind of a killer, the narrator and main character making him familiar with the reader. Poe focuses more of the thoughts and emotions of the main character rather than physical attributes of Montresor which made for a more intimately disturbing story for the reader.
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
The Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allen Poe is a short story told in the gothic genre. Although this story was written decades after the popularity of the genre, The gothic genre through its descriptions of the atmosphere as well as its use of grotesque and macabre imagery creates a sense of alienation, chaos, entrapment, uncertainty, and terror in the reader. Gothic literature often deals with themes of death, fears and anxieties, good vs evil, estrangement, and revenge. Furthermore, gothic literature often ends with a sense of moral closure and resolution. The Cask of Amontillado use of gothic conventions can be seen in its setting. However, the story’s unconventional use of irony and omission of moral closure adds to the psychological
Edgar Allan Poe is a famous writer in writing detective stories and horror stories. One of his horror stories, “The Cask of Amontillado” was talking about how a man took his revenge to his friend. However, to look deeply in this story, I found that this story was not just simply a horror tale about how a man gets his revenge in the safest way. Instead, it also demonstrates much irony in several areas: the title, the event, the season, the costume, the environment, the characters’ personalities, a man’s dignity and cockiness and at the end, the public order. he are
Womack, Martha. “Edgar Allan Poe’s ‘The Cask of Amontillado.’” The Poe Decoder. Christoffer Nilsson, 1997. n.pag. Web. 6 Nov. 2011 .
In the "Cask Of Amontillado" there are three main symbols that are crucial to the storyline. There are the Catacombs which while obviously representing death as it is a eerie place that is full of dead bodies, it also shows the isolation of Fortunato to the outside world; While also foreshadowing his impending fate.
James Gargano, a famous critic, said The Cask of Amontillado was a masterpiece; a powerful tale of revenge; one of Edgar Allan Poe 's richest aesthetic achievements; deserves more analysis than it has received; and that critics have rightfully expressed admiration for the tale (Gargano). Like Gargano, many critics give Poe’s The Cask of Amontillado great acclamation. Though few critics are displeased with the narrator, The Cask of Amontillado is widely praised by most critics. "The Cask of Amontillado" is a work of art, and not just an ingenious Gothic exercise” (Milne). Other critics such as Bettina Knapp and Charles Dana, did not like The Cask of Amontillado or that Montresor felt no guilt. Poe 's characters murder and commit heinous crimes and feel no remorse towards their victims. "Bettina Knapp places ‘The Cask of Amontillado’ among Poe 's ‘shadow tales,’ which do not offer values. No judgmental forces are at work. Crime is neither a negative nor a positive act. Poe 's psychopaths do not distinguish between good and evil, nor do they usually feel remorse or guilt”