How Does Edgar Allan Poe Define Freemasonry

Out of the five articles relating to Edgar Allan Poe’s fictional works, I have found one article particularly interesting: Freemasonry, the Brethren, and

the Twists of Edgar Allan Poe in THE CASK OF AMONTILLADO, this article deals with the topic of Freemasonry which has always fascinated me. The first sentence of this article captivated me with a solid and simple definition of what Freemasonry, in essence is: Freemasonry is defined as “a beautiful system of morality, veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols” (Mackey, “Symbolism”).

As a student in an English speaking country I am new to Edgar Allan Poe, however, since I have discovered his work I must say he is without a trace of doubt a great artist, writer and historical figure.

In his fictional work The Cask of Amontillado, he has achieved to twist the rather obscure concept of Freemasonry and its secret moral teachings and symbols in efforts to deceive a Mason, Fortunado, using his trust and love of the unified brother- hood, for the self interest of the protagonist in the story named Montresor. For an author to use a theme as relatively secret and unknown as that of the freemasons and its culture and appropriate it in such a manner that he deems fit for his story thus, as a result manipulating what individuals have yet to conclude as facts, for Freemasonry remains as mysterious as ever is arguably art at its very core. For this reason I have found this article incredibly fascinating.
One connection that I’d like to point out between this article and the story that we are currently reading, The Fall of the House of Usher is basically drawing out in clear daylight Edgar Allan Poe’s use of the strategy to make things more mysterious than what they ought to be. He takes an idea and just remarkably shrouds it in mystery with his powerful use of the English language and his manipulation of certain themes and ideas. In this article, his affinity to this style is only affirmed to.