Irony Developing Revenge

1441 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Revenge as a theme in literature

Irony Developing Revenge Throughout “The Cask of Amontillado”
Revenge, a feeling that can consume the soul of a person till they no longer know themselves. Edgar Allan Poe is well known for writing poetry and short stories around the genres of mystery, horror, and insanity. “The Cask of Amontillado” is one of his short stories in which he demonstrates a feeling of vengeance. In “The Cask of Amontillado”, revenge is prevalent and is conveyed through irony within the story’s plot.
One of the most important examples of irony shown in the story is Fortunato himself. Fortunato’s name derives from the word fortunate yet this is an example of situational irony because as the plot progresses, Fortunato is indeed unfortunate (John). Montresor has …show more content…

Right after Fortunato yells his last words, Montresor says “Yes for the love of God” which “can be read ironically, in that his motives might be taken to pride” or that it could be read as though he has gone insane (John). When someone says “For the love of God”, they are urgently pleading for something. Whether their emotions are based on anger, or terror, they usually want that feeling to leave their minds. Montresor must have seen reality for a fragment of a second and his conscience must have told him, “What have you done?” He felt immediate regret, but there was no turning back now. What was done, was done. When Fortunato did not reply back, he grew impatient and called out for him twice. Here, it is implied that Montresor must have felt at least the slightest regret for poor Fortunato.
Throughout the plot of “The Cask of Amontillado”, irony takes a huge role in portraying the theme of revenge. Situational irony is represented through different scenes in the story like when Fortunato wore a jokester costume. Verbal irony is shown by Montresor for supposedly being Fortunato’s friend because he says things that show sympathy. Finally, dramatic irony is also in the story since the audience knows Fortunato is doomed, but Fortunato himself does not know that. Irony can help develop the feeling of vengeance and Edgar Allan Poe demonstrates this accurately though this particular short

Show More
Related

  • Examples Of Verbal Irony In The Cask Of Amontillado

    204 Words  | 1 Pages

    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.”

    Read More

  • Irony In The Cask Of Amontillado Essay

    1292 Words  | 3 Pages

    Within this plot of revenge, Poe uses irony and symbolism to develop his theme of a man who tries to gain absolution for the sin he is about to commit. Irony in "The Cask of Amontillado" Poe

    Read More

  • In How To Read Literature Like A Professor, By Thomas C. Foster

    518 Words  | 2 Pages

    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.”

    Read More

  • Edgar Allen Poe's The Cask of Amontillado

    614 Words  | 2 Pages

    Poe's, The Cask of Amontillado is a story about fear and revenge. The story begins with Montressor's vow of revenge, foreshadowing future actions. "The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as best I could; but when he ventured upon insult vowed revenge..." Montressor had to be sure not to raise suspicion of what he was going to do Fortunato. Montressor knew that Fortunato had a weakness that he could use towards his advantage.

    Read More

  • How Does Poe Use Dramatic Irony In The Cask Of Amontillado

    689 Words  | 2 Pages

    Montresor proves not to mess with someone's feeling. He explains, “I must not only punish, but punish with impunity” (Poe 372). Fortunato does not know that he is going to die, yet Montresor and the reader do know, making the situation dramatic irony. By punishing him with impunity he is going to get revenge that he has wanted now for years ever since he did wrong to Montresor and now that he finally gets the chance of course he will seek revenge on Fortunato. And it is dramatic irony because Fortunato is oblivious to the situation. Montresor proves that one should be careful on what they say. He speaks, “I continued, as was my wont, to smile in his face, and he did not perceive that my smile now was at the thought of his immolation” (Poe 372). Montresor is saying

    Read More

  • Pride in The Cask of Amontillado

    873 Words  | 2 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Montresor Poetic Justice

    920 Words  | 2 Pages

    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

    Read More

  • An Eye for an Eye

    605 Words  | 2 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Use of the Single Effect in A Cask of Amontillado

    730 Words  | 2 Pages

    "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...

    Read More

  • Montresor Character Analysis

    1214 Words  | 3 Pages

    “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.

    Read More

  • Theme Of Literary Devices In The Cask Of Amontillado

    917 Words  | 2 Pages

    Despite being urged against it several times; he ventures on willingly to his tomb. The warnings also serve another purpose; Montresor offers his prey a way out in exchange for Fortunato’s pride to be injured. Accepting the invitation of heading back would mean weakness, but possibly would have saved Fortunato’s life for losing his pride.

    Read More

  • Theme of Revenge in Poe's 'The Cask Of Amontillado'

    1382 Words  | 3 Pages

    Gruesser further speculates that Montresor may in fact be speaking to a priest to relieve his conscience of the dread he experienced each day since he murdered Fortunato (130). Such a theory is further demonstrated when Montresor calmly echoes Fortunato's exclamation, "For the Love of God" (Poe, 1597). Fortunato is not just crying for mercy during the last few moments that he has a chance. He is also warning Montresor to think of his own demise and the next world thereafter (Delaney, 130). Therein lies the source of Montresor's half a century of dread. He was so blinded by his hatred and lust for revenge that he failed to think of his own soul. Only when it is too late does he realize to how great of an extent he may have actually affected his own life.

    Read More

  • “The Cask of Amontillado” --- Full of Irony

    1226 Words  | 3 Pages

    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

    Read More

  • The Cask of Amontillado

    885 Words  | 2 Pages

    Edgar Allan Poe is one of greatest American authors and poets. He is well-known as a master of using irony in his story. “The Cask of Amontillado” is a horror story about revenge of Montresor upon Fortunato. Fortunato believes Montresor is his good friend, but he ends up with being chained and walled in to the catacombs. There are three types of irony used in this short story: verbal irony, dramatic irony, and situational irony. Using these ironies, Poe wants the readers to understand about Montresor’s “friendship” with Fortunato.

    Read More

  • The Theme of Revenge in “The Cask of Amontillado”

    1638 Words  | 4 Pages

    Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado” is a frightening and entertaining short story about the severe consequences that result from persistent mockery and an unforgiving heart. Poe’s excellent use of Gothicism within the story sets the perfect tone for a dark and sinister plot of murder to unfold. “The Cask of Amontillado” simply overflows with various themes and other literary elements that result from Poe’s Gothic style of writing. Of these various themes, one that tends to dominant the story as a whole is the theme of revenge, which Poe supports with his sophisticated use of direct and indirect factors, irony, and symbolism.

    Read More

More about Irony Developing Revenge

Open Document