Psychology In Edgar Allan Poe's The Cask Of Amontillado

One of the most respected psychologists, Edward Thorndike, defined psychology as, “the science of the intellects, characters and behavior of animals including man.” When critiquing literary works from a psychological perspective, the author’s life is linked with the behavior and motivations of the characters in the literary work being critiqued. In the short story, “The Cask of Amontillado”, the author is Edgar Allan Poe, who portrays himself and his state of mind within the story. Montresor is a reflection of Poe 's character in the sense that he experiences Poe 's misery and depression as well as the emotional detachment from his victim. His tragic life is by some means connected to his writings, in which he portrays himself through the

Numerous times in the story, Poe demonstrates how a human being can achieve something from someone without even demanding for it. An example of how he uses reverse psychology in “The Cask of Amontillado” is when Montresor asks Fortunato to experience amontillado, but then at the same time says, “…I will not impose upon your good nature. I perceive you have an engagement” (Poe 4). In the same way, when Fortunato coughs due to the nitre walls, Montresor uses reverse psychology and says, “Come,… we will go back, your health is precious… We will go back; you will be ill and I cannot be responsible. Besides, there is Luchesi” (Poe 5). Knowing how much Fortunato loves wine and hates Luchesi, Montresor uses reverse psychology by tricking Fortunato to fall even deeper into the

It is a depiction of Poe’s own life experiences with the upper-class as well as a representation of the nobleness versus the progressively more important lower classes. Whenever a most important power commences, trailing influence, there are always repercussions and that is what Montresor symbolized through his act. In the end, Montresor characterizes the fading nobility in the world and how powerfully they would fight to prevent the lower class from social mobility; however, like the picture in the catacombs where Fortunato and Montresor change places, the lower classes will ultimately take the position of the