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Introduction
The Cask of Amontillado was published in 1846 by an American author named Edgar
Allan Poe. It is a story that involves two main characters, Fortunato and Montresor. The tale
revolves around vengeance, torture, murder, and alcohol addiction that occurs in an underground
cemetery. Montresor is the murderer and the narrator, while Fortunato is the victim.
This paper
seeks to identify and discuss a theme and integral literary elements.
Themes
Revenge
The author of the cask of Amontillado gives an insight from the beginning of revenge as
being the focus. He explores Montresor’s revenge idea explicitly. Montresor believes in the
ideology that a wrong is un-redressed when retribution overtakes its redresser. He vows to have
his revenge with utmost tactfulness and plans on how to execute it without leaving any loose
ends, such as witnesses. He uses Fortunato’s weakness of his love for alcohol to his advantage.
Approaching him when he was already mentally impaired from having too much wine already.
Montresor also knows that Fortunato prides himself on being the master when it comes to
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matters of wine knowledge. He uses this in convincing Fortunato by mentioning a third party,
Luchresi- believed to be also a wine enthusiast. Several things come to mind when viewing the
zeal with which a man is committed revenge. The Montresor family is one that believes in
retaliation, as evident in their family motto and the theme in their coat of arms. He chooses a
perfect timing to carry out his revenge, a time when he knows that all his workers will be out at
the festival.
Drugs and Alcohol
It is strange to note that all the characters in this story are wine enthusiasts. Fortunato’s
love for wine leads him to his grave as Montresor discovers that as his weak point and takes
advantage of it. Additionally, Fortunato's pride and arrogance in his belief that nobody else knew
as much as him, in matters wine, made him have a clouded judgment on the real intentions of
Montresor.
Literary Elements
Irony
Verbal and Dramatic Irony
The cask of Amontillado employs dramatic and verbal irony to develop his plot and
character. The reader is aware from the onset that Montresor hates Fortunato and that he is luring
him to the catacombs to have his highly anticipated revenge. The expectation Fortunato has of
tasting the Amontillado is far from the reality of what awaits him (Poe 68).
In this story, the
author develops only two characters, Montresor and Fortunato (whose name means luck).
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Nevertheless, how lucky was Fortunato in this story is the paradox. In spite of his name,
Fortunato is most unlucky as he was being led to his death. Montresor’s words to Fortunato are a
perfect example of verbal irony (Poe 69). The discrepancy between what is said and what is truly
meant is massive. For instance, while at the catacombs, the two toasted on the Medoc and
Montresor answers at Fortunato’s toast saying he drinks to his life. Fortunato thinks Montresor
wishes him a long and healthy life, though he means the opposite.
The author sets the story with an ironic contrast to the setting. The events take place in a
festive season, which is supposed to be characterized by dances, laughter, and joy, and feasting.
It is a celebration that is bright, lovely, and colorful (Poe 68). Yet amid the celebration of life,
Montresor is consumed with the urge for vengeance and focuses on the death of Fortunato. To
highlight the irony of this contrast between life and death, the author moves his characters from
light to darkness, from sound to silence, into the catacombs of the Montresor’s.
Mood
Poe uses description and details of setting to create an atmosphere that makes the reader
able to show emotions while reading, such as fear, suspense, and mystery. The story takes place
at night, and the characters venture into the catacombs underneath Montresor’s family estate
using a torchlight (Poe 71). The creepy mood is created using descriptive passages like, ‘passed
through long walls piled with skeletons' and 'walls lined with human remains.'
Foreshadowing
From the beginning, Montresor reveals to us his intention to have revenge on Fortunato
for disrespecting him. At first, we could overlook it because we do not believe he is going to
carry along with his alleged threat (Poe 68). He also makes known of his intention to get away
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with the crime and ends up making sure that he carries out the revenge while everyone else was
out at the festival, and seals the place where he chained Fortunato, to ensure that his body is
never discovered.
Conclusion
The cask of Amontillado is a story about revenge and secret murder. It is a tale of terror,
and there is no justification for the sort of punishment Fortunato had to endure. The story
revolves around vengeance and impaired judgment of character. The use of the literary elements
has been fundamental for readers as it creates an inclusive setting and environment, where the
readers can relate to the story and feel like they are part of it.
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Works Cited
Poe, Edgar Allan.
The cask of Amontillado
. The Creative Company, 2008.