The Cask Of Amontillado

Essay by PaperNerd ContributorCollege, Undergraduate February 2002

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Cask of Amontillado "I must not only punish, but punish with impunity" with these words from the introductory paragraph of Edgar A. Poe's Cask of Amontillado. The story of Montresor's carefully planned revenge begins.

Montresor made good the opportunity presented by the Carnival, to put into motion his plan of Fortunato's demise. "Luchresi cannot tell Amontillado from Sherry" (14) says Fortunato, dressed as a jester; he did not want anyone else but himself to be the first to taste Montresor's Amontillado. Montresor the manipulative and vengeful person he is then conjures a façade of Fortunato's engagements and current health condition. However Fortunado's ego overcomes him and places him on a platter, exactly as Montresor had planned. Fortunato was unaware of Montresor's internal hate and as Poe described "had on a tight fitting parti-striped dress and a conical cap and bells" (3). This depiction of Fortunato seems to suggest gullibility and an air or foolishness even though he was a man of stature.

While Poe presents Montresor as wearing a man's heavy, knee length coat and putting on a mask of black silk, gives the feeling of deception and of the need to hide himself.

The plot further thickens when they arrive at Montresor's palazzo; the servants weren't there, Montresor well knew they won't be. While leading Fortunato to the pipe of Amontillado Montresor seemed to toy with him, much like a cat does with its prey. Montresor even says of his cough "we will go back; your health is precious"¦" "Enough" Fortunato replies "the cough is a mere nothing; it will not kill me."(38) "True"”True" Montresor replied. (39) Montresor knew the cough wouldn't be the element of Fortunato's downfall.

"Then you are not of the brotherhood (58) "¦ You are not of the masons?"(60) Fortunato inquired. To this...