Florestal, Fedena
Mrs. Johnston
AP English Language and Composition
December 16, 2014 Fear of Horror To be truly insane is to be seriously ill mentally. In “The Cast of Amontillado” and “The Black Cat”, both written by Edgar Allan Poe, most definitely shapes the understanding of the meaning of insanity by the use of an unreliable narrator. Poe did this brilliantly by adding a layer of confusion and darkness to the narration. The atmosphere he creates gives you an insight of fear and horror. In his stories, Poe used insanity and terror effectively because the narrators are portrayed to be untrustworthy. Montresor clearly stated form the first paragraph how he felt about Fortunato. This lets you know that it’s about vengeances and how the story won’t end pleasant. He said, “The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as best I could; but when he ventured upon insult, I vowed revenge” (144). Then I ask myself, what was the “insult” that has driven Montresor to murder? I don’t believe describing injuries and insults that have been made a ”thousand times” and stating Fortunato knows him so well makes this narrator stable or in the right state of mind in any shape or form. Consequently, Poe explains Montresor plan of revenge. This exposed his insane obsession with making Fortunato pay for his wrongdoings. Montresor can’t deny that he wants Fortunato to receive retribution for what he has done. It is equally unredressed when the avenger fails to make himself felt as such to him who has done the wrong. Who has done the wrong? In Montresor’s, twisted mind he wants to be reminded “never again” will repeat the same mistake. But sadly, the severe punishment Fortunato suffered was death. Another example of unreliable character is the narrator from “The Black Cat”. In the beginning of the story he has an animal lover. Then shows how much great love he has for his cat, by blaming everything on him and eventually