Cask of Amontillado Imagery Analysis Essay

Poe uses first person narration to allow readers to see Montresor’s complex thought process and manipulating nature. There are many instances in the story that show the Montresor had carefully planned the murder of Fortunato. Starting from the very beginning, Montresor told the reader that “[He] continued… to smile in [Fortunato’s] face, and [Fortunato] did not perceive that my smile was at the thought of his immolation” (Poe 59). This dark action is the first sign that not only is the murder long and thought out, Montresor is manipulating Fortunato into believing that they are friends. Once he had developed this trusting relationship, it was not difficult to lewer Fortunato into the catacombs. In addition, Montresor intentionally selected a time when Fortunato would be intoxicated and unable to make sound

Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado” is a goosebump-evoking tale that follows one man’s twisted plot for revenge. Although carnival season is in full-swing above ground, Fortunato finds himself being lead to his death underground in the catacombs. His “past insults” will ensure that he will never again participate in such feasts and merriment; Montresor, his “frenemy”, will make sure of that. As if the story isn’t creepy enough, Poe uses dialogue and sensory details to produce a mood that is both suspenseful and dark.

In the text montresor says”my heart grew sick on account of the dampness of the catacombs”(poe 67). Montresor is saying he feels bad for what he is doing and he feels sick in his heart To where he doesn't want to go through with it. But he thinks to the fact that he has made fun of him. In that case he continued down the catacombs and on with the murder. He thinks he is going to bring justice to himself but he loves the fact that he is taking Fortunato to his death. James F. Cooney says “ He seems to be unaware but the reader is not ,of the gleeful tone of his confession”(Cooney 15 ). At first Montresor acts as though he does not know what he is doing wrong. Suddenly he feels sick and knows he is wrong but thinks to when fortunato mad fun of him and feels no longer

Poe begins setting the tone of the story by describing the gloomy and threatening vaults beneath Montressor’s home. The first description of the Montressor home, as well as the reader’s first hint that something is amiss, is the description of the time off Montressor had required his employees to take. This

It is Edgar Allan Poe's intense use of symbolism and irony throughout the Cask of Amontillado that establishes the short story as an indeed interesting candidate worthy of thorough analysis. The skillful use of these devices are utilized by the author to create this horrific and suspenseful masterpiece.

Edgar Allen Poe’s tale of murder and revenge, “The Cask of Amontillado”, offers a unique perspective into the mind of a deranged murderer. The effectiveness of the story is largely due to its first person point of view, which allows the reader a deeper involvement into the thoughts and motivations of the protagonist, Montresor. The first person narration results in an unbalanced viewpoint on the central conflict of the story, man versus man, because the reader knows very little about the thoughts of the antagonist, Fortunato. The setting of “The Cask of Amontillado”, in the dark catacombs of Montresor’s wine cellar, contributes to the story’s theme that some people will go

Edgar Allan Poe uses literary devices to describe and support the underlying theme of revenge. Poe uses foreshadowing in the story since you pretty much know what’s going to happen to Fortunado in the form of his heinous death by the end of the story. Throughout there is a steady change of scenery from a lively carnival to a dark

Montresor is hurt from what Fortunato caused him and that is pain due to the things he has done to lead up to the events. It states “ THE thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult, I vowed revenge. You who so well know the nature of my soul, will not suppose, however, that I gave utterance to a threat.”(Poe 1).  Montresor has hatred towards Fortunato, who caused damage inside him mentally making him want a form of revenge back at him. The mood of the story starts off with hatred, but now as Montresor and Fortunato are the catacombs causing the scene go to spooky. It says “Its walls had been lined with human remains piled to the vaults overhead in the fashion of the great catacombs of  Paris.”(Poe 5). Catacombs is a very odd place to look for wine because of what’s stored inside of it. One can see from this that Montresor and Fortunato have arrived to the catacombs which causes the mood of the story to change due to dead bodies surrounding them. Edgar Allan Poe expressed every detail and helped the readers envision the events with his mood changes.

Montresor is the brutally insensitive narrator and presents his story from a unique first person perspective. Poe was intricate in telling this story from his point of view. He could have chosen to paint a picture for the readers through the eyes of Fortunato or possibly an outside narrator’s perspective. Poe makes an interesting decision as to who was going to tell the story. Significantly, he does not explain the nature of Fortunato’s transgression through Montresor's point of view. To explain further, Montresor tells the story in the first person, the reader is able to be directly aware of his thoughts therefore

"The Cask of Amontillado" is one of Edgar Allan Poe's greatest stories. In this story Poe introduces two central characters and unfolds a tale of horror and perversion. Montresor, the narrator, and Fortunato, one of Montresor's friends, are doomed to the fate of their actions and will pay the price for their pride and jealousy. One pays the price with his life and the other pays the price with living with regret for the rest of his life. Poe uses mystery, irony, and imagery to create a horrifying, deceptive, and perverse story.

Poe uses foreshadowing as a technique to emphasise the theme of revenge he has created the story around. The story has shown to have foreshadowing throughout to help the reader understand what the character Montresor has planned for Fortunato. In the story, Poe uses the detail of Montresor carrying a trowel in his pocket. A trowel is a flat blade used to spread things, or in this case spread the mortar on the bricks to enclose Fortunato. By showing that Montresor is keeping the trowel close to him shows that he is prepared to finally get his revenge on Fortunato, and put his nerves to ease. The second detail Poe uses is Montresor’s family motto. Montresor in the story mentions his family motto which is. “ Nemo me impune lacessit”. Which means, “ No one attacks me with impunity”. The family motto is used in this story to show that Montresor will not stand for anybody who punishes him in any shape or form. Somehow Fortunato has done something to wrong Montresor, and by sticking with his family motto. It is foreshadowing the idea that Montresor will do something to get his revenge. When Montresor finally has Fortunato intoxicated, Montresor decides to finally make his move. Montresor decides to lure Fortunato down into the Catacombs by using his one weakness, wine. By stating there is a wine that Montresor bought and he would Fortunato to test it leads us to believe it is a trap. Montresor then goes on and says that the wine is the catacombs. The word catacombs has a negative connotation with leads us to believe this is foreshadowing the event where Montresor makes his move to get his revenge. Foreshadowing was just one of the few ways Poe used

Edgar Allen Poe is known for the various literary devices he uses in his works. One of the most famous devices he uses is symbolism. In many of his stories, including “The Masque of the Red Death,” “The Fall of the House of Usher,” “The Tell-Tale Heart,” and “The Cask of Amontillado,” Poe uses symbolism to further develop each story by the messages he writes between the lines. Symbolism is an important aspect of Poe’s many works, seeing as how it allows the readers to make connections within the stories. In “The Cask of Amontillado,” Poe represents symbolism through the title of the short story, the outfit Fortunato wears, and the Montresor family motto and coat of arms.

Edgar Allan Poe utilises dramatic irony in Montresor's narration and dialogue to not only reveal his murder plan, but also to explore disturbing details about his characters. From the beginning, Montresor makes it clear he despises Fortunato and vows for revenge. He promises to not only "punish, but punish with impunity" and "at length I would be avenged."  However, unlike the reader, Fortunato is unaware of Montresor's desire for revenge. This is the requirement for dramatic irony. Later, once Montresor has lured Fortunato into the catacombs and Fortunato begins coughing, Montresor fakes consolation and sympathy to cajole Fortunato closer and closer to his death. Here Montresor says: "come, we will go back; you are rich, respected, admired and beloved…" His dialogue is troubling: behind his sympathetic and caring façade lies a devious and crafting person. It leads naturally onto questions such as: how well do we know the people around us? Is what they show us their true self and feelings? Therefore, Poe doesn't just use dramatic irony to add complex elements to Montresor's character, but also to explore aspects of human condition. In the short story, the particular human condition focuses on revenge. Fortunato continues into the catacombs, bravely saying, "I shall not die of a cold." We know Fortunato will not die of a cold! Due to dramatic irony, and Montresor’s carefully orchestrated executions of actions, we know from the very start that Fortunato will die. But we do not how. This creates suspense. To which Montresor brazenly replies "true, true." Montresor is toying with Fortunato, and is in complete control, and yet Fortunato is ignorant. Through the short story, Fortunato insults Montresor numerous times. Fortunato’s character is also explored through dramatic irony and provides insight into our own lives: sometimes we say things that are intended to be personally funny, except in this situation Montresor is aware, and it's not embarrassing- it is chilling. We realise how much danger Fortunato is in, and his insults are only adding to the flame. He does not. We can see the gap between what he thinks he knows and what he truly knows. Aside from creating suspense and apprehension, dramatic irony also

From start to finish Edgar Allen Poe’s Cask of Amontillado had the reader navigating the confession of a murderer that often left a bitter taste in one’s mouth. The biased perspective of a nostalgic and even, to an extent, remorseful killer gives plight to the true contradiction of a perfect crime and sweet tale of revenge. Thanks to the first person narrative the story is quite literally shown through the eyes of Montresor, the advantage being that we are able to see the character fully descend into madness and bloodlust as tensions lead to a meticulously plotted deed, treachery and deceit all sealed neatly in a basement wall. Even without a clear introduction, the audience being included in the story as a close friend of Montresor’s, this point of view vividly constructs both motive and the night of the crime alongside

“The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allen Poe is a thinly veiled story of revenge, vanity, and greed. After careful preparation Montresor plans and enacts revenge against Fortunato, in return succeeding and receiving solace. The story becomes emblematic. The Amontillado becomes a representation of greed and vanity, and the cask symbolized a descent to the bottom or end.