Jocelyn Stewart
March 11, 2014
English 102-108
Fiction Essay
"A Cask of Amontillado" The short story "A Cask of Amontillado", by Edgar Allen Poe, Poe takes the reader into the thoughts of a murderer for revenge. The major theme to "A Cask of Amontillado" is pride versus revenge as well as humiliation. The reader is experiencing the horror of dramatic irony that we, the audience, knows that Montresor has planned to murder Fortunado, while Fortunado does not. Personally, I can relate to Montresor, to feel so hurt and betrayal from a friend , however not to the extent of murder. Overall, the reader experiences Montresor's struggle between pride and revenge, Montresor wanting to kill Fortunado as well as feeling good about doing it for closure. Poe has been known for writing short stories that have gothic, dark themes that relate to a "mad man" in a situation that he has to face. "A Cask of Amontillado" starts off which Montresor venting on his bitterness for Fortunado and how he wants to seek revenge. Knowing that Fortunado is very drunk from alcohol, he feels that it is the perfect opportunity to get his revenge by offering him more free alcohol. To seek closure from the betrayal that he feels, Montresor lures Fortunado down into the catacombs and buries his body in the wall. Throughout the entire short story, the reader feels suspense and horror. Especially knowing the unreliable state of the narrator and knowing that Montresor is going to kill Fortunado but not knowing when or how. I can relate to the struggle of having to choose between revenge and pride. In middle school, I had a best friend from many years and the only person I could talk to. After finding out that my friend had replaced me and found new friends, I felt hurt and betrayed and wanted to get back revenge. As well as getting revenge, I was exceedingly jealous which only made me more angry. And the more I thought about how jealous I was to the thought of being replaced made me want to do something so bad to get back at her. The difference between Montresor and myself is that he became too into revenge that his pride was that he needed Fortunado to pay and suffer for whatever is was that Fortunado did to Montresor. In response to the story, Shazma Hamid states that, " when the thought of revenge develops in a person’s brain, it drives him insane and does not allow him to give it a second thought, " (Hamid 4). We know that Montresor is seeking revenge when he states that " The thousand injuries of Fortunado I had borne as I best could: but when he ventured upon assault, I vowed revenge, (Poe 144). Hamid also states that Montresor has been so deep in thought of plotting to kill Fortunado and fighting bitterness and jealousy, that he does not even give a reason on how Fortunado betrayed him, (Hamid 4). Similar to Hamid, Michael Cummings believes that the theme to "A Cask of Amontillado is deception. He says that when he lures Fortunado down into the catacombs, he deceives Fortunado. He tells him that he wants to taste some whine to see if the wine in genuine Amontillado or not, (Cummings
The Cask of Amontillado Multiple Choice Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question. Comprehension The questions below refer to the selection “The Cask of Amontillado.” ____ 1. According to Montresor, he decides to seek revenge against Fortunato because Fortunato — a. attacked him with his fists c. insulted him b. injured him more than a thousand times d. stole some valuable wine from him ____ 2. According to Montresor, revenge would not be successful if he…
Nadia Islam Eng-102 (CGA): Professor Sateriale Formal Response 4 3 March 2013 The Cask of Amontillado Edgar Allan Poe, an American short-story writer, essayist, and poet, published “The Cask of Amontillado” in 1846. It was his last, and some say greatest, short story. It’s a tale of revenge, death, fear, and trust set in a vast underground Italian catacomb (underground cemetery). The whole plot deals with the inebriation and, ultimately, the live burial of the antagonist, Fortunato. The…
Analyzing theme revenge in “The Cask of the Amontillado” The Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allan Poe the central idea embodied in this literary work is revenge. Vengeance is something that is borne out of sheer anger on a person or persons due to immense insults, abuse or injury done. Revenge makes a person thoughts and action cling towards anger and hatred. Ultimately make wrong decision. Revenge is portrayed and repeated several times, In the Edgar Allan Poe’s story the author…
Brittany Bray Dr. Kerri Allen English 1102 January 19, 2013 Summary “The Cask of Amontillado” The narrator, Montresor, tells a story about a man who he has vowed revenge. He speaks of a noblest named Fortunato continuously throughout the narrative. Fortunato, who is very much respected throughout the Italian village, and even feared by some villagers, has insulted Montresor by an unspecified action. Although Montresor is angry and vengeful towards Fortunato, he does not let Fortunato see that…
Why Don’t I Pour You Another Glass of Wine?: Irony in Edgar Allen Poe’s “Cask of Amontillado” “I drink,” Fortunato says, “to the buried that repose around us.” To which Montresor replies “And I to your long life.” This is coming from the man that is about to chain and bury his friend alive in an underground crypt. Edger Allen Poe’s short story “Cask of Amontillado” is filled with much irony from Fortunato’s name to how he is being lured down to the catacomb. The leading character and narrator…
Braden Hegseth Mrs. Carino 2/3 Language Arts 29 September 2014 Extended Response - Point of view Question 2: How can we tell Montresor is unreliable? What is the purpose of using this type of narrator? In Cask of Amontillado, Edgar Allan Poe uses an unreliable narrator in the form of Montresor. We can tell Montresor is unreliable by this sentence on page 174, “The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as best I could; but when he ventured upon insult, I vowed revenge.” Montresor seems to exaggerate…
“Araby” and “The Cask of Amontillado”: A Comparison I found the stories “Araby,” by James Joyce and “The Cask of Amontillado,” by Edgar Allan Poe to have a similar idea behind them. They both seem to be stories involving someone manipulating the actions of another person. I will be talking about and comparing the different elements of each story and their relevance. Both stories take place in different countries. In “Araby” the story is about a boy from Ireland. The country itself doesn’t…
Irony Revenge has been sought after for many reasons so as quirky as this one, the short story “The Cask of Amontillado”, by Edgar Allan Poe. Montresor has been hinder many times by Fortunado, so in doing so Montresor takes his revenge on Fortunado for these crimes upon him. Causing intense use of symbolism and irony throughout the Cask of Amontillado that establishes the short story as an indeed interesting candidate worthy of thorough analysis. These skillful tactics used by Edgar Allan…
way. Through Montresor’s eyes the audience sees his plans unfold as the drunken Fortunato is whisked away from Carnival on the promise of his deepest weakness, Amontillado wine. But as the two enter into the depths of the catacombs beneath Montresor’s palazzo, one sees that Fortunato’s fortune is soon to run dry. In “The Cask of Amontillado”, Edgar Allen Poe masterfully combines the elements of fiction; yet his use of irony, symbolism and theme stand out among the rest, intertwining to create a captivating…
Narrative Essay After the Cassk of Amontillado Fourty nine years later and I had relived the day I killed Fortunato in my head about one thousand times, but evey time I think about it all I remember was him saying "“For the love of God, Montresor!” This was the last words that came out of that back stabbing "friend" Fortunato's mouth. I never knew what this meant did it mean that I brought Fortunato to the pit of desperation and dread, and he felt that god had left him behind? Or did Fortunato…