Criticism of The Cask of Amontillado Essay

A Prose Criticism: The Cask of Amontillado

Elaborately designed, masterfully crafted, and macabre to an astounding degree, The Cask of Amontillado is an example of Poe's typical horror short story setting. A combination of irony and pure terror, strewn with subversive, eerie elements allow the reader to enjoy the tale on a wide range of levels. Powerful and recurring themes are often attributed to Poe, claiming that it is his style. Some of these themes are in themselves an orb of mystery and imagination. This is the name of the book in which Poe had published his many short stories, among which is found The Cask of Amontillado.

Despite the laconic nature of his tales, Poe adequately communicates complex motifs and emotions, including revenge and hurt pride, by means of the concise diction and vivid settings.

Poe's story depicts a premeditated murder, Montresor, the narrator vows to take revenge upon Fortunato for an insult. The point of view is a crucial element in influencing the reader's perception of the story. The first line of the story is a good example of how the narrator attempts to bring the reader to his side right from the start.

"The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult I vowed revenge"

Here he tries to sway the reader to his side by indicating that Fortunato has crossed the line and insulted him. This is a sly device as he never mentions what Fortunato has actually done. This raises the question, whether Fortunato has really insulted Montresor, or whether Montresor is spinning a web of deceit. This puts the sanity of our narrator into question. This is brought again up when Fortunato is trapped behind the wall, Montresor re-echoes and even outdoes Fortunatos yelling. The story ends with Montresors words In pace requiescat! (May he rest in peace). His words contradict his actions, he has murdered the man for whom he prays, with careful thought and planning. However these words seem to indicate that fifty years later he is repenting. Montresor seems to derive a pleasure from the reaction of Fortunato, when his approaching fate begins to dawn on him.

Montresor seems to seek vengeance in support of his family motto: "Nemo me impune lacessit."("No one assails me with impunity.") On the coat of arms, which bears this motto, appears "a huge human foot d'or, in a field of azure; the foot crushes a serpent rampant whose fangs are embedded in the heel." The symbolism present solely in the coat of arms and the motto is sufficient to deduce the outcome of the tale. Fortunato will not get away without consequence.

Irony is present throughout the story from beginning to end. Although sometimes subtle and subversive, it is a main element in the tale. The name Fortunato implies from literal translation that he is a man of good fortune, when in reality he is about to die. Montresor's behavior towards the man he is going to kill is the most natural and friendly sort, he even compliments Fortunato in order to coax him into the cunning ruse that he has planned. Montresor psychologically manipulates Fortunato in many different ways playing on all of the character's weaknesses, the central one being pride. He even tempts Fortunato into the catacombs by saying that if Fortunato is occupied, he can go to his rival (Luchresi). Fortunato is forced by his pride to accompany Montresor to prove his higher status than Luchresi as a connoisseur of wine. During their way down under in the catacombs, he offers Fortunato the chance to leave yet knowing that his pride would not allow him to retreat.

The setting is also an ironic element. It set is during Venices Carnival, a time of celebration and happiness for everybody. However, in the tale it is a time for revenge and death. The atmosphere changes drastically when the two protagonists leave the merriment of carnival for the gloomy and desolate catacombs. Fortunato has apparently been drinking and is dressed in many colours, resembling a jester. His costume suggests that he will be the one playing the fool. On the other hand Montresor is dressed in a black-coloured cloak and has his face covered with a black mask. This already provides a hint as to who is the victim and who is really the wrong-doer.

The manner in which Poe dresses Fortunato, as a clown, is ironic because Fortunato is being virtually made a fool of by following Montresor into the catacombs. Also, when Fortunato says "I will not die of a cough," and Montresor responds "True-true," it shows a perverse sense of humor in the irony of Montresor's response.