Narration In Montresor's The Cask Of Amontillado

The narration in The Cask of Amontillado affects how the story is read. His sarcastic and cynical way of narrating the story gives readers insight into the meaning of it. Montresor’s version of explaining the events contorts the readers’ perception of the characters and their opinions of the story. Two of the key methods that are used in Montresor’s narration are his use of tone and his first person perspective. Instead of an unbiased, outsider point of view, there is an opinionated one that shows an inside look into the narrators thought processes and emotions. The narration style in The Cask of Amontillado is unique in the way that it is overly predictable, but the way that it is told keeps one hooked until the very end of the story.

Montresor

The way he manipulates Fortunato is through the way he speaks. He speaks as if he is trying to use reverse psychology on Fortunato. Montresor speaks in a sorrow tone when he pretends that he has chosen Luchresi to take with him when he first brings up the wine. This hits a nerve in Fortunato which then triggers him to agree to go with Montresor to see the amontillado. “And as for Luchresi, he cannot distinguish Sherry from Amontillado.” (Poe 109). One is able to predict a twisted ending to this story because of the way Montresor speaks to Fortunato. “…he did not perceive that my smile now was at the thought of his immolation.” (Poe 108). His tone shows the sociopathic side of Montresor because he is able to hold in his anger toward Fortunato for the greater good of his overall plan. He portrays that he has no animosity against Fortunato by speaking calmly, with an underlying malevolent tone so that readers are still able to understand what Montresor is actually

Montresor is the main character who is narrating from the viewpoint of someone in the story that is being told. This gives bias towards Montresor because the audience feels the need to root for him since he is telling the story. Montresor, in the beginning, is able to justify the acts he is about to do, while we are not able to hear Fortunato defend or explain what he has done to Montresor that would cause him to take those actions. “…but when he ventured upon insult I vowed revenge.” (Poe 108). Since it is told through Montresor, the readers are also able to hear what his thoughts are. This adds an extra layer to the story by giving not only what he is saying to Fortunato to get him to do what he wants, but also his true intentions and thought processes while he is executing his master plan. He explains to the readers that he manipulated his servants into leaving his house for the night so that no one would witness Fortunato at his home. “These orders were sufficient, I well knew, to insure their immediate disappearance…” (Poe