Themes The main themes of the short story “The Cask of Amontillado
The Cask of Amontillado
"The Cask of Amontillado" is a short story by Edgar Allan Poe, first published in the November 1846 issue of Godey's Lady's Book. The story, set in an unnamed Italian city at carnival time in an unspecified year, is about a man taking fatal revenge on a friend who, he believes, has insulte…
What does the cask of Amontillado symbolize?
An Analysis of The Cask of Amontillado By Edgar Allan Poe
- Important Symbolism. If you haven’t read the short story yet, you might want to read The Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allan Poe before we start covering the symbolism and ...
- Examples of Irony in “The Cask of Amontillado”. ...
- This post is part of the series: Short Story Study Guides. ...
What is the mood of the story called The Cask of Amontillado?
Mood Description In The Cask Of Amontillado. It represents the place for burial, so when narrator leads Fortunato to the catacomb, the mood of the story thickens with a growing suspicion and anxiety. In addition to that, the catacomb is filled with an intoxicating smell of nitre and ancient bones, skeletons, and other human remains.
What are some character traits in 'the cask of Amontillado'?
What are five character traits that describe Fortunato?
- Addiction. Fortunato is addicted to wine.
- Insensitivity. Whether he really hurt and insulted Montresor or not, he’s so insensitive, he doesn’t notice that Montresor is mad at him, something any fool can see.
- Pride and Greed. He’s either too proud or too greedy.
- Trust.
Are there any metaphors in 'the cask of Amontillado'?
There are a few examples of metaphorical language in "The Cask of Amontillado." For example, in describing the nitre (or "niter"), or a kind of chemical that is also called potassium nitrate or ...
What is the theme of The Cask of Amontillado quizlet?
The theme of Poe's stories is Anger, Death, and Revenge. It means "No one threatens me with impunity".
Why is the theme of The Cask of Amontillado revenge?
The theme of revenge in “The Cask of Amontillado” is the driving force for the entire short story. The main character, Montresor, vows to take revenge against the other main character, Fortunato, because of an “insult” that Fortunato has apparently made against Montresor (Baraban).
What is the main point of The Cask of Amontillado?
Edgar Allan Poe's famous short story takes place in an Italian city and features two characters, Montresor and Fortunato. The plot summary of ''The Cask of Amontillado'' is about revenge, deceit, and murder, as Montresor tricks a drunk Fortunato by trapping him inside an ancient catacomb.
How is revenge a theme?
Revenge is mainly associated with anger, hatred, and grief. That's why the theme of revenge is so prevalent in art and literature. It allows authors to show the feelings people experience before, during, and after an act of vengeance.
What are the themes of the Cask of Amontillado?
The main themes in "The Cask of Amontillado" are the corrupting influence of revenge and the nature of sin and atonement. The corrupting influence of revenge: revenge characterizes the entire short story as Montresor gleefully recounts his victory over Fortunato. Click to see full answer.
What is the story of Montresor and Fortunato?
To wrap it up, Edgar Allan Poe's short story 'The Cask of Amontillado' is the story of a man named Montresor who decides to seek revenge against a man named Fortunato, who has insulted him. He meets Fortunato at a carnival, lures him into the catacombs of his home, and buries him alive.
What was the main character's motive in the Cask of Amontillado?
Deeply rooted hatred, revenge and other factors drove the main character Montresor in Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado” to mercilessly murder his friend Fortunato.
What are the themes of the story of Montresor?
Aside from revenge, other themes which are evident in the story are hatred, envy, deception, and pride. Fuelling the desire to take revenge, Montresor’s hatred for Fortunato pushed him to commit murder. His hate apparently emanated from the occasion when he was disgraced by Fortunato. However, it was not clearly specified what had caused Montresor ...
What was Montresor's revenge on Fortunato?
Montresor finally had accomplished his revenge against Fortunato when he had finally covered him in the wall wherein he had told Fortunato that the cask of Amontillado was hidden. The cask of sherry had turned out to be the casket for Fortunato and the consummation of revenge for Montresor.
Who can tell if amontillado is authentic?
In the story, when Montresor mentioned that he was about to consult Luchesi about the Amontillado, Fortunato reacted with great pride that Luchesi cannot tell the difference as though telling Montresor that he was the only one who can determine if the wine was an authentic Amontillado (Poe 333).
What is the theme of Poe's story?
Another theme in Poe’s story is envy. Though it is indirectly stated in that Montresor was envious of Fortunato, it can be concluded that in some ways, Montresor was envious of Fortunato. One aspect that Montresor may have been jealous of Fortunato was that he was famous for his skill and taste in wine.
What are the themes of the Cask of Amontillado?
The Cask of Amontillado Themes 1 Ambivalence: Readers are never told the nature of the “thousand injuries of Fortunato,” and Montresor himself seems somewhat ambivalent about the revenge he takes on his “friend.” 2 Self-delusion: Montresor appears to be under the delusion that his murder of Fortunato is just, and perhaps even that Fortunato has wronged him at all, while Fortunato is under the delusion that Montresor means him no harm. 3 Substance abuse: Alcohol and drunkenness play central roles in the story, contributing to Fortunato’s gullibility and ultimate demise in Montresor’s wine cellar.
What is Montresor's statement about Fortunato?
Montresor, whatever the reality or unreality of Fortunato's wrongs perpetrated against him, is duping himself. He begins with an extended statement, like a postulate, on the nature of vengeance and the proper way of enacting it against a foe.
Why doesn't Montresor explain himself?
Perhaps Montresor does not explain himself because there's nothing to explain. In any event, he appears to be under a delusion that he's been victimized, or at least in thinking that suffocating a man alive is the appropriate punishment for whatever Fortunato has supposedly done.
What is Ambivalence in a story?
Ambivalence might be an unexpected theme for a story in which a man's emotions and intent are one-sided to the point of burying another man alive, but the surface events conceal a deeper meaning. One cannot know precisely what motivates Montresor in his quest for revenge.
What does Fortunato say to Montresor?
Though Fortunato finally pleads, "For the love of God, Montresor!" until this point his reaction to being walled up alive has been muted, to say the least. He does not seem aware of what's happening, or to care. It defies human reason for even a drunken man to act this way. He may believe at first that the whole thing is a joke, as he says, "An excellent jest! We shall have many a rich laugh about it at the palazzo." But when he finally realizes he's being entombed, instead of asking Montresor, "Why are you doing this?" he makes an irrational plea to Fortunato's religious conscience.
What is the feeling that dominates Poe's characters?
Poe alludes to the "perversity" that motivates his killers; it is just as accurate to describe the feeling that dominates these characters as a kind of bizarre, grand-scale ambivalence. They love and hate on an exaggerated, almost supernatural plane, in a kind of grotesque manifestation of the irrationality that lies at the heart of human behavior.
What is the analogy of the Black Cat?
An analogy in the Poe canon is " The Black Cat ," in which the narrator declares that he killed Pluto with tears streaming down his cheeks because the cat loved him and had never done him any harm. The same is true concerning the elderly victim in " The Tell-Tale Heart ." Poe alludes to the "perversity" that motivates his killers; it is just as accurate to describe the feeling that dominates these characters as a kind of bizarre, grand-scale ambivalence. They love and hate on an exaggerated, almost supernatural plane, in a kind of grotesque manifestation of the irrationality that lies at the heart of human behavior.
What is the theme of the Cask of Amontillado?
Themes. in. The Cask of Amontillado. Revenge: Amontillado revolves around Montresor’s desire to seek revenge on Fortunato for an unknown crime. Because the “insult” is never revealed, the revenge in this story takes the form of an all-consuming hatred, a vengeance that displaces the original injury and itself becomes a cause.
What was Montresor's goal in the plot?
That, in fact, was the whole purpose of his plot to kill him. He wanted to rid himself of his exceedingly painful inner feelings of resentment and rage. Montresor specified at the beginning that he wanted to achieve the perfect revenge. The last words verify that he has succeeded in doing so to his complete satisfaction.
Why is Montressor in disguise?
Both characters are literally in disguise because it is Carnival, which makes it logistically possible for Montressor to take Fortunato into the catacombs.
What does Montresor confess to Fortunato?
When read in this way, the final line suggests that Montresor confesses this story as a form of repentance.
Why is Montresor's story unclear?
Because of the unclear identity of his audience and the ambiguous final line of the story, it is unclear why Montresor relates this story fi fty years after the fact. For this reason, the story can be read as either the main character taking pride in the success of this murder, or as a way in which the main character repents for his sins.
How long has Fortunato been dead?
These final words (which translate to "rest in peace") are not ironic but completely sincere. Fortunato has been dead for fifty years, and Montresor no longer has any of the ill feelings he had for the man. That, in fact, was the whole purpose of his plot to kill him.
How many years after the event is the Cask of Amontillado told?
But the story is told in retrospect by the narrator, Montresor, fifty years after the event to an unknown listener (only referred to as “you” in the story). That means that there are actually two different time frames happening in “The Cask of Amontillado.”.
What is the Cask of Amontillado?
Like we mentioned earlier, “The Cask of Amontillado” is a story told in retrospect. An older Montresor is speaking to an unnamed listener, recounting how he killed Fortunato in revenge. Readers know nothing about the listener, only that he’s Montresor’s audience in telling the story.
What does Montresor do with Fortunato?
Montresor then reveals the bricks and mortar he has stored in the vault, and he begins to wall up the opening to the niche...with Fortunato chained inside. The process is a long one, and Montresor describes Fortunato’s fearful cries and attempts to pull free from the chains. But Montresor is determined, and he throws a lit torch into the niche with Fortunato before he finishes walling him in alive.
What is the scariest aspect of the Cask of Amontillado?
Perhaps the scariest aspect of “The Cask of Amontillado” is how far Montresor goes for revenge. In many ways, what Fortunato has done to warrant Montresor’s wrath is immaterial; Poe is more interested in how revenge drives a man to extremes.
What does Montresor tell Fortunato about Amontillado?
He tells Fortunato that he was on his way to find Luchresi —another wine connoisseur—to help him determine the wine’s authenticity.
What is dramatic irony in a short story?
Dramatic irony is when the reader knows something that one or more of the characters don’t know. In this case, readers know what Montresor plans to do, but Fortunato remains ignorant. This creates tension in the short story. As a reader, you want to yell at Fortunato to run away, but you can’t.
When was the Cask of Amontillado published?
The Cask of Amontillado Background. “The Cask of Amontillado” is one of Poe’s most famous short stories, and it was originally published in 1846 in Godey’s Lady Book, the most popular periodical in the United States at that time.