Aaron Brown
Mrs. Ross
English/Block A
15 May 2015
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The short stories, “The Tell-Tale Heart” and “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe both have unreliable narrators because they always have a “good” reason to kill someone. In addition, both murderers kill their victim for small reasons. For example, Montresor, the narrator of “The cask of Amontillado”, kills his victim over an insult. Also, In “The Tell-Tale Heart”, the murderer kills his victim over an eye. This shows that the narrators both cannot be reliable because they kill over the smallest reasons. Next, these stories both have an antagonist that acts like a friend or acquaintance to the murder victim. Throughout his stories, Poe uses characterization and
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the use of literary devices in each story to illustrate the unreliableness of the authors and their grudges they hold on their victims. In the short story “The Cask of Amontillado”, Poe uses verbal irony to illustrate the plot of the story.
First, however, the use of verbal irony originates from when Fortunato, the murder victim, insults the narrator, Montresor. Montresor explains, “The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could; but when he ventured upon insult, I vowed revenge” (Poe 1). This quote tells the readers that since Fortunato insulted Montresor, Montresor seeks revenge. Montresor uses verbal irony to take advantage of Fortunato so he wouldn’t question going into the catacombs to “taste rare wine”. For instance, in “The Cask of Amontillado Montresor acts like he is friends or acquainted with Fortunato, but he isn’t, this is one of Montresor’s plan to lure Fortunato into the catacombs without him questioning it. Poe writes, “I said to him—“My dear Fortunato, you are luckily met. How remarkably well you are looking to-day! But …show more content…
I have received a pipe of what passes for Amontillado, and I have my doubts” (Poe 5). This quote shows that Montresor is using verbal irony to lure Fortunato into his demise. Also, the use of verbal irony develops the topic because, when he acts nice to him in the beginning, it changes to how Montresor really feels when he kills Fortunato. Secondly, Poe writes in his story with the use of verbal irony so that Montresor acts like he cares for Fortunato. This is because if Montresor acts like he cares Fortunato wont question going into the catacombs and be more motivated to find the Amontillado. He writes, “My friend, no. It is not the engagement, but the severe cold with which I perceive you are afflicted. The vaults are insufferably damp. They are encrusted with nitre” (Poe 21). This shows of how Montresor is faking that he cares for Fortunato. Poe uses verbal irony to make Fortunato think that nothing is to worry about and that death isn’t an option for Montresor to choose. Third, Fortunato is toasting to the reposing bodies around when Montresor exclaims, “And I to your long life” (Poe 42). This is an example of verbal irony and a great example of why Poe’s Characters are unreliable because Montresor is acting like there isn’t anything going to happen to Fortunato. Fortunato thinks nothing is wrong and doesn’t think about the dangerous possibilities of murder. Fortunato doesn’t doubt being in that situation because Montresor toasted to his “long life”. Overall, in “The Cask of Amontillado” expresses great verbal irony that expresses the dark plot of the story. In the story “The Tell-Tale Hearts”, the narrator in is unreliable and expresses great psychotic actions.
One reason why he is unreliable and psychotic is that he killed someone over an eye and starts the hearing the murder victim’s heartbeat. This shows how unreliable he is because he went crazy and started to hallucinate after he killed someone over an eye. ” It grew louder—louder— louder! And still, the men chatted pleasantly and smiled. Was it possible they heard not? Almighty God!— no, no! They heard!—they suspected!—they knew! —they were making a mockery of my horror!—this I thought, and this I think. But anything was better than this agony! Anything was more tolerable than this derision! I could bear those hypocritical smiles no longer! I felt that I must scream or die!—and now—again— hark! louder! louder! louder! louder! — “Villains!” I shrieked, “dissemble no more! I admit the deed!— tear up the planks!—here, here!—it is the beating of his hideous heart” (Poe 18). This shows that this man was insane and that you cannot trust him because he clearly doesn’t have the right state of mind to be trusted. Also, it is impossible to hear a person’s heartbeat when he isn’t alive. Next, the narrator says that he can hear sounds in different realms. “I heard things in heaven and in the earth. I've heard many things in hell” (Poe 1). This shows that he hears things that aren’t really able to be heard. Also, it shows that he is insane because, near the ending, he hears a dead
man’s heartbeat. This connects because he is hallucinating hearing things. Thirdly, the narrator chooses the kill a man over an eye. “is impossible to say how first the idea entered my brain; but, once conceived, it haunted me day and night. Object there was none. Passion there was none. I loved the old man. He had never wronged me. He had never given me insult. For his gold, I had no desire. I think it was his eye! yes, it was this! One of his eyes resembled that of a vulture—a pale blue eye, with a film over it. Whenever it fell upon me, my blood ran cold; and so by degrees—very gradually—I made up my mind to take the life of the old man, and thus rid myself of the eye forever” (Poe 2). This shows how this man is psychotic and crazy enough to murder a man over an eye that he has. If he was sane, he would have ignored the man, but he chose the harsh way and chose to murder someone over an eye that was “cursed”. Overall, the dark plot, the sinister meaning, and the use of literary devices grow the true design of Poe’s stories grim backstory. Both narrators knew their victim's downfall, which was caused by their unknowingness. Poe uses the unreliableness of his narrators to enhance his stories plot. Both of his narrators had had some contact before, which means they both knew the person they killed. Poe employs the theme of unreliableness in both of these stories to show that you shouldn’t trust the narrator. Therefore, Poe’s dark meaning behind his stories display theme, never trust in someone you do not truly know.
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.”
Another example of verbal irony lies in Montresor's conversation with Fortunato. Montresor tells him, "My dear Fortunato, you are luckily met." "(Baym) Fortunato seems to interpret these words to mean that Montresor likes him and is glad to have run into him. On the other hand, Montresor, is happy to see Fortunato but for his own despicable reason: that of murder.
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.”
Verbal irony occurs when speakers or writers say the opposite of what they mean. One example of verbal irony in The Cask is when Montresor first sees Fortunato at the carnival. This is ironic because Montresor acts like he is pleased to meet Fortunato but he really is not. For example, Poe writes, “My dear Fortunato you are luckily met. How remarkably well you are looking today” (237) Moreover, what Montresor really means is that the meeting is lucky because it presents a good time to murder Fortunato. Another reason that Montresor acting like he is pleased to meet Fortunato is ironic is that Montresor wants to murder Fortunato. Montresor is mad because of Fortunato’s unknown insults toward him but is acting nice. Montresor is acting nice so that he can disguise his motives to kill Montresor.
Again, Poe uses this branch of irony to foreshadow events to come in the story, by having the characters, usually Montresor, say something but actually mean the opposite. Like, when both men finally arrive to their destination, Montresor toasts to Fortunato’s “long life,” clearly not meaning it, since he’s the one with intentions to murder the intoxicated and overly trusting man. Then, at the end of the story, Montresor ends his tale with “In pace requiscat,” or “Rest in peace.” If Montresor’s able to retell these events with such clear detail, he certainly did not rest in peace. These two final scenes emphasize the truth of the story, and the final line gives a bit more insight to Montresor’s life, giving the story
Irony in Richard Connell's The Most Dangerous Game and The Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allen Poe
In Edgar Allen Poe’s story, “Cask of Amontidallo”, Poe uses irony to show that revenge is not always as satisfying as humans want it to be. Poe uses elements, such as, the characters’ dress, the coat of arms to hint towards the ironic end. In the story Montresor, our protagonist, laments the many wrongs committed against him by Fortunato, the careless victim of Montresor. The action of the story occurs on fat Tuesday of Carnival in Italy. This is why both Montresor, and Fortunato are in bizarre costumes. This was also Montressors excuse to give the staff the day off as Jamil Mustafa said, “Montressor had given his servants ‘explicit orders to not stir from the house’ during Carnival.” This ensured no witnesses would be there to see Montressor.
One of the most famous authors in American history is Edgar Allen Poe, thanks to his intricate and unsettling short stories and poems. One of the strongest aspects of Poe’s writing style is the allure and complexity of the narrator of the story. These narrators, ranging from innocent bystanders to psychotic murderers, add depth to such a short story and really allow Poe to explore the themes of death and murder which he seems to have an unhealthy obsession towards. Furthermore, he uses these narrators to give a different perspective in each of his many works and to really unsettle the reader by what is occurring throughout the story. The narrators, whether an innocent witness of death as in "The Fall of the House of Usher" or a twisted murderer as in "The Cask of Amontillado" are used by Poe to discuss the themes of death and murder within these stories and, depending on their point of view, give a different take on such a despicable act such as murder.
Symbolism is something that represents more than what it really is. It is often by authors in their writing to give it more emphasis. For example:" In life there will always be peaks and valleys" meaning in life there will be ups and downs but we should enjoy the peaks and fight through the valleys. Objects can also be a form of symbolism such as The Bible, it represents more than just a book. It represents Life, Church, Religion, and the life of Jesus Christ and what he stood for. Irony is like a twist or words or the opposite of what is intended. For example: Laughing at someone that just slipped and fell, then later you find yourself slipping and falling is a form of irony. Irony is found in real life situations as well as writings. Symbolism is a technique that gives authors a better story and shows objects as more than what they are. They use techniques like this to catch the reader’s attention.
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.
The narrator is deluded in thinking the officers knew of his crime because his insanity makes him paranoid. In conclusion, Poe shows the insanity of the narrator through the claims of the narrator as to why he is not insane, the actions of the narrator bring out the narrative irony of the story, and the character of the narrator fits the definition of insanity as it applies to "The Tell Tale Heart". The "Tell Tale Heart" is a story about how insanity can overtake someone's mind and cause one to behave irrationally.
In this short story, examples of irony and foreshadowing are presented very often in between lines. One of the very first things that I find as the biggest irony in this short story fiction is the victim’s name “Fortunato”. As I looked up the definition of the name, Fortunato means fortunate which is very ironic due to the fact that he is going to die, and be walled up in the catacombs. Aside from that, I also found a verbal irony at the very beginning of the story when Montresor first sees Fortunato at the carnival and says “My dear Fortunato, you are luckily met,” (Poe) .I found this to be very much ironic because, Fortunato is not actually lucky to have met Montresor who is actually going to murder him.
“The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe is a story full of irony. Irony is defined as a literary technique in which what appears differs radically from what is actually the case. In addition, irony can be divided into three groups: dramatic, verbal, and situational. Dramatic irony is when the readers notice something before the characters do. Verbal irony is when the characters say something that differs significantly from what they really mean. Situational irony is when the actual result is different from what was initially expected of it. In “The Cask of Amontillado,” Poe combines all of these ironies in a truly singular way to tell the story and to construct the personalities of the characters
The Tell-Tale Heart treads the line of genius versus insanity. Poe begins the story with an introduction from a presumably insane narrator who first greets his audience by reassuring us that he’s not insane at all. “Observe how calmly I can tell you this story,” he begins. He finds genius in his plot to kill an old man with a fogged eye, and the very thought consumes the narrator. The line between genius and insanity was a line Poe treaded throughout many of his works, but especially in The Tell-Tale Heart. According to an analysis of Poe’s works expressed in the novel Edgar Allan Poe: A Study in Genius by Joseph Wood Krutch, it states that “Truth and fiction were with him inextricably mingled, and imagination, being the result of an unconscious effort at psychic adjustment, outside his control. Sometimes, it was so vivid as to constitute an actual hallucination, but being afterwards recognized as such it was written down as a story....
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.