The Cask Of Amontilado Essay, Research Paper

Katie Zhang

November 27, 2000

Period 3

The Cask of Amontillado

? ? The 1000 hurts of Fortunato I had borne as I best could ; but when he ventured upon abuse, I vowed revenge. ? ? So begins The Cask of Amontillado, Poe? ? s dismaying narrative of pride and requital. Told by Monstresor, this narrative Tells of how he lured his friend Fortunato into literally walking into his ain grave. From the gap sentence the reader can comprehend that Monstresor is proud and vindictive, and would make anything to salvage face. As the narrative progresses, Monstresor unravels the chilling narrative of how he got his retaliation, though vengence had been taken when no existent discourtesy had been given.

In the thick of a great carnival Monstresor approaches Fortunato, claiming he has purchased a cask of Amontillado. He goes on to state that he doubted the genuineness of the vino, and was on his manner to Luchresi? ? s to inquire him to savor it. ? ? [ Fortunato ] prided himself on his virtu of wine. ? ? This pride finally leads to his ruin, for he criticized Luchresi? ? s, stating he? ? can non state Amontillado from Sherry. ? ? Therefore Fortunato accompanies Monstresor to the latter? ? s household vault, where the nonexistent Amontillado was being stored.

The vault, deep underneath the Monstresor estate, is? ? insufferably muffle? ? and? ? encrusted with nitre. ? ? The manner Poe describes these catacombs further accentuates the morbidity of the state of affairs. ? ? We passed through a scope of low arches, descended, passed on, and falling once more, geting at a deep crypt, in which the foulness of the air caused our flambeaux instead to glow than flame. ? ? The baleful tone of this narrative is characteristic of the Gothic manner of authorship.

Poe uses a good trade of symbolism in this narrative. For illustration, the Mo

nstresor household coat of weaponries is? ? a immense human pes vitamin D? ? or, in a field cerulean ; the pes crushes a serpent rampant whose Fangs are imbedded in the heel. ? ? The weaponries symbolize Monstresor and Fortunato, with the former being the pes, and the latter being the snake. Though Fortunato has hurt Monstresor in the yesteryear, Monstresor will finally oppress Fortunato.

Boding besides plays an of import function in this narrative. The Monstresor household slogan is? ? Nemo me impune lacessit, ? ? which stands for? ? No 1 attacks me with impunity. ? ? Both the slogan and the coat of weaponries suggest requital. When Monstresor inquires of Fortunato? ? s cough, which is made worse by the potassium nitrate in the catacomb walls, Fortunato merely replies, ? ? ? ? ? ? The cough is a mere nil ; it will non kill me. I shall non decease of a cough. ? ? ? ? To which Monstresor agrees, cognizing his friend will in fact dice from desiccation in the crypt. As Monstresor offers Fortunato a draft of Medoc, he drinks to Fortunato? ? s long life, which is dry, sing the latter will shortly decease at the custodies of his? ? friend? ? . ? ? Another case of boding comes with the trowel scene. Fortunato asks whether Monstresor is a member of the Masonic order, but Monstresor answers with a ocular wordplay. When he declares that he is a? ? Mason, ? ? he means that he is a rock Mason & # 8212 ; that is, that he will be constructing things out of rocks and howitzer: viz. Fortunato? ? s grave, ? ? ( Sparknotes.com ) .

The menacing ambiance is merely one component of the Gothic manner. The sinister catacombs and the wicked Monstresor besides play a cardinal function in developing this narrative of horror. What makes this narrative even more horrifying is that there is no existent force in the modern definition of the word. Monstresor was vindictive, yet he was really intelligent in his actions to kill Fortunato. Without a uncertainty, this narrative of requital is one of Poe? ? s best plants.