Revenge In Montresor: The Death Of The Amontillado

The many injuries of Fortunato I had taken as I best could, but when I ventured upon insult I vowed revenge (Poe, 226). Throughout the story one thing compelled Montresor to commit his crime and carry out his actions. Montresor’s revengeful personality is portrayed throughout the story by his actions and choices. His fixation on vengeance drives him to commit this perfect plan. The retribution for Fortunato’s actions are made very clear within the beginning of the story and are clear cut in Montresor’s mind. Poe uses symbolism, irony, character, and narrative perspective within the story to relay the main theme of revenge. In this story Poe uses symbolism heavily throughout the story to relate it back to revenge. The motto and crest of the

Montresor is very egocentric throughout the story, only caring about the wrongs Fortunato has committed. We know Montresor is very manipulative “Let us go, nevertheless. The cold is merely nothing. Amontillado! You have been imposed upon. And as for Luchesi, he cannot distinguish Sherry from Amontillado.” (Poe 227). Montresor plays into Fortunato’s ego knowing that he will want to be the judge of the Amontillado. Montresor deceptively lures Fortunato into the catacombs using his love for wine to lead him to his death. The narrator states “There were no attendants at home; they had absconded to make merry in honor of the time. I had told them that I should not return until the morning, and had given them explicit orders not to stir from the house” (Poe 227). Montresor knew his servants disobedient nature and used the carnival to persuade them into leaving the estate when his back was turned. This shows Montresor’s cunning and deceptive nature and his calculated planning to carry out this crime. This shows the amount of planning and effort Montresor has gone through to exact revenge on the unwitting

We see a lot of verbal irony throughout the story that shows Montresor’s motives and also adds a touch of dark humor to this Gothic tale. Fortunato retorts “the cough is a mere nothing; it will not kill me. I shall not die of a cough.”(Poe 228). Montresor responds by agreeing with him, the audience and Montresor both know the fate that lies for Fortunato. These ironic statements that Montresor makes in the story show the readers his dark motives even though Fortunato is unaware. The character’s name is also very ironic in the story. The name Fortunato is similar to fortunate, which would lead us to believe he has good fortune or lived a good life. In this case the opposite is true and Fortunato is subjected to death in a very unfortunate