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Uses of irony in poes the cask of amontillado
Irony in Edgar Allan Poe
Uses of irony in poes the cask of amontillado
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In the passage "The Cask of Amontillado” the characters have a unique relationship that is certainly one-sided. Irony is defined as the expression of one's meaning by using language that normally signifies to opposite, usually used as sarcasm or as a hypothetical meaning. Fortunato and Montresor are explained by how their relationship is so different from one verses the other. In the story "The Cask of Amontillado" Edgar Allen Poe explains a lot about situational, dramatic and verbal irony. Firstly, situational irony in this passage can be tricky to find, but yet obvious once it's brought to your attention. The first example of situational irony is when Montresor talks with Fortunato at the party. There was no doubt that Montresor did not …show more content…
Montresor explains to Fortunato that he is of the masons. Fortunato asks Montresor for a sign of being a mason. This is an example of dramatic irony because even though the reader knows the truth behind the story, Fortunato does not. In the passage Poe states, “It is this, I answered, producing a towel from beneath the folds of my roquelaure.” (pg. 239). Poe also states in the passage, “You are not of the masons.” (pg. 239). Montresor is trying to put himself on the same level of Fortunato, which Fortunato does not ever let him, and that causes part of the feud that Montresor has for Fortunato. Another example of dramatic irony is Fortunato develops a cough and has become sick which leads him to believe that is what he will die from. This is dramatic irony because the reader fully knows that Fortunato is going to die, but because of a cough. It states in the passage, “the cough is a mere nothing; it will not kiss me. I shall not die of a cough.” (pg. 238). Montresor leads on Fortunato by stating, “we will go back; your health is precious.” (pg. 238). Montresor shows Fortunato that he cares about his health when in reality he wants him dead. Fortunato has no idea that he is going to end up dead, but the reader is fully aware of what is going to happen to
In the story “The Cask of Amontillado”, the author uses lots of verbal irony to emphasize the evil intentions of Montresor.One of the examples of verbal irony in the story that he uses is “The cough’s a mere nothing; it will not kill me. I shall not die of a cough.” and “true--true, I replied.” The effect of this irony is it that Montresor already knows how Fortunato will die.Another example of verbal irony used in the story was when they did a toast to each other. “I drink”, he said, to the buried that repose around us.”
Another example of verbal irony lies in Montresor's conversation with Fortunato. Montresor tells him, "My dear Fortunato, you are luckily met." "(Baym) Fortunato seems to interpret these words to mean that Montresor likes him and is glad to have run into him. On the other hand, Montresor, is happy to see Fortunato but for his own despicable reason: that of murder.
In this chapter, Foster discusses irony. When Montresor is attempting to bring Fortunato into his catacombs, he makes several ironic statements. For example, he says that Fortunato’s “health is precious” (Poe 868). As well as this, Fortunato himself states that he “shall not die of a cough” (Poe 868). These two statements are ironic because Montresor is pretending to care about Fortunato’s health and life, when in reality, he is about to kill him. To add to this, Fortunato admits that he won’t die from a cough, unbeknown to the fact that he will instead die from his friend. Also, another ironic part of the story is the fact that Fortunato came to the catacombs for wine, but his own intoxication led to how easily he was killed. If it hadn’t been Carnival, and if he hadn’t been so heavily drunk, he might have been able to at least attempt to escape his inevitable death. Also, if he had been sober, he may have realized how foolish it was to follow Montresor to the catacombs when his story wasn’t exactly adding up. These are a few examples of irony in “The Cask of Amontillado.”
Verbal irony occurs when speakers or writers say the opposite of what they mean. One example of verbal irony in The Cask is when Montresor first sees Fortunato at the carnival. This is ironic because Montresor acts like he is pleased to meet Fortunato but he really is not. For example, Poe writes, “My dear Fortunato you are luckily met. How remarkably well you are looking today” (237) Moreover, what Montresor really means is that the meeting is lucky because it presents a good time to murder Fortunato. Another reason that Montresor acting like he is pleased to meet Fortunato is ironic is that Montresor wants to murder Fortunato. Montresor is mad because of Fortunato’s unknown insults toward him but is acting nice. Montresor is acting nice so that he can disguise his motives to kill Montresor.
Irony is also used throughout this tale. The use of revenge in this story shows irony. Montressor avenges himself by fooling Fortunato into literally walking into his own grave. Fortunato pursues the "cask" which ends up being his own casket. Montressor even asks Fortunato repeatedly whether he would like to turn back.
Edgar Allen Poe uses irony and poetic justice all throughout “The Cask of the Amontillado”. The places where irony and poetic justice hold the most significance are the scenes where, Montresor speaks of the wronging done to him by Fortunato, where Montresor and fortunato speak of the coat of arms, and where at the very end when Montresor traps Fortunato in the catacombs and leaves him to die. These scenes clearly show the use of these two tools that Poe used to tell the story of Montresor and
Dramatic irony is used when we know, or draw a conclusion of, what will happen to Fortunato, although he continues his descent into the catacombs in pursuit of the Amontillado. The sense of revenge reaches its highest peak when Poe uses irony for Montresor to inform us that he will smile in Fortunato's face while using his wine to lure him into the catacombs to taste his imaginary Amontillado. During this scene like a fool in his costume while Montresor is leading him to his death bed. This whole time Montresor plays very innocent.
Just about everything Montresor says is ironic. He says just the opposite of what he means. He keeps inquiring about Fortunato’s health, Fortunato says that he “shall not die of a cough” (554). Montresor agrees with him, he knows what will ultimately be the death of Fortunato. Montresor deviously leads Fortunato to the vaults “down the long and winding staircase, requesting him to be cautious” (554). Montresor opens a bottle of wine and makes a toast to his friend’s “long life” (555). As For...
"A Cask of Amontillado" is replete with ironic statements and situations. Fortunato's very name is ironic given his horrific fate. At the beginning of the story, when Montresor divulges his theories on proper revenge, he says, "A wrong is unredressed when retibution overtakes its redresser." This is ironic (and a bit amusing) as Montresor is utterly consumed by his hatred of Fortunato. Then, during their descent into the catacombs, Montresor tries several times to con...
Irony is used very often by Poe. Irony is when something occurs that is the exact opposite of how it should be or seem. Irony varies in that it may be displayed through someone’s actions or an ironic happening. An example of irony in someone’s action are in the Cask of Amontillado is when Montressor repeatedly seems concerned for Fortunato’s health, even though his real intentions are to kill him. It also may be considered ironic that Poe named the enemy of Monstressor, Fortunato. Being that Fortunato means fortunate or lucky in Italian, it is ironic that he is very unlucky in that he his buried alive in a wall.
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
Montresor actually makes a comment to Fortunato, along the lines of his name. "My dear Fortunato, you are luckily met." This story is what I call dramatic irony. As I previously stated, the readers understand what is going on even when the character does not. Foreshadowing. Another huge literary element. Cask, the first major word in the title of the story, similarly, it almost sounds like casket. Montresor tells Fortunato about the pipe of Amontillado, he has recently purchased. Fortunato 's reply, "How? Amontillado? A pipe? In the middle of a carnival?" The response isn 't necessarily directed at Montresor, as he believed. It was directed towards the fact that wine had been bought while they were in the middle of a carnival. Montresor smiles, all the while he holds thoughts of deception and hatred. He make it seem that Fortunato will have to follow him to prove he is a better option than Luchresi. A man who apparently can 't tell his wines apart. Montresor, has not care for Fortunato, or his health. Yet, he pretends to persuade him to turn back due to a cough. Fortunato denied his request. Fortunato is not aware of anything that is happening to him, because to him Montresor is a friend. Someone who would never hurt him, much less murder
The first irony is verbal irony. Verbal irony is a figure of speech in which what is said is the opposite of what is meant. There are many examples of this kind of irony through this story. The first irony is the name “Fortunato.” Fortunato’s name suggests good fortune, or of being fortunate, but he is exactly the opposite, he is killed. Another irony is when Fortunato follows Montresor go to the vault, Montresor acts like he cares about Fortunato’s health, “we will go back; your health is precious. You are rich, respected, admired, beloved; you are happy, as once I was. You are a man to be missed. For me it is no matter. We will go back; you will be ill, and I cannot be responsible.” (1202) But readers know from the beginning of the story, Montresor only wants to kill Fortunato. “And I to your long life,” (1202) Fortunato has lived out his life already, it is about to be over. Going deeper into the vaults, Fortunato gets more and more coughing, and Montresor shows his concern to Fortunato’s health “Come, we will go back ere it is too late. Your cough—“It is nothing.”(1202) But Montresor knows that the more he acts as he cares Fortunato, the more Fortunato wants to reach Amontillado-his dark fate. Fortunato is a man who is being blindly led to his death by someone who he feels as an admiring friend, but this friend is actually a person in searching for his own revenge.
One way that Poe uses irony is to emphasize Montresor’s dislike for Fortunato. Up until the end of the story (before it was revealed that it was a flashback), Montresor pretended to be Fortunato’s friend. When Montresor was coming up with the plan to kill Fortunato, he knew his
Even the characters names brings forth irony such as the name Fortunato means the fortunate one, which in the story he proves that he is not fortunate given the predicament that he is in. The name Montressor means my best friend and he proves that he is nowhere near someone’s best friend since he is seeking out vengeance on Fortunato. Another example of irony is when there was only one stone left to fit into the wall, and Fortunato shouts “Will not they be awaiting us at the palazzo, the lady Fortunato and the rest? Let us be gone” (10). This is ironic because Montresor was not going to undo all the layers of bricks he put up in order to let him out. Montresor tormented Fortunato by replying “Yes, let us be gone” (10). With that we do not know if he means what he says.