Cask Of Amontillado

Normal and Abnormal Behavior on Revenge

In the story "The Cask of Amontillado" by Edgar Allan Poe, he writes about a man named Montressor who for some reason (one that we do not know) vows revenge on a well respected and even feared guy named Fortunato, to better understand the story though you will want to know about the author Edgar Allen Poe. Edgar Allen Poe has been a huge influence to many writers in short stories. Most of his tales deal with detective, and gothic horror tales, and in most of his tales readers live the story through first person narrator like in "The Cask of Amontillado" who tells the tale. The fact that Poe presents a first person narrator allows for the possibility that the information he provides is not reliable. From this we can conclude that the way Montresor sees things is not accurate reality. From this we can consider that Montresor is insane we better understand the nature of vengeful behavior. In this story from when Montressor vows revenge to when Fortunato is sealed up to his doom there is a lot that goes on such as certain foreshadows and ironies like when Montressor reveals that he is a freemason. I'm also going to support an analysis supporting the theme of the story on "revenge" and how it's demonstrated through out the story of "The Cask of Amontillado." By analyzing the rest of the story we'll come to understand that Montresor might really be insane.

Throughout the story Montresor portrays himself as a rational person. This is true throughout the rest of the story but, his perspective is so screwed. What may seem normal to him may actually be abnormal behavior. Like when he says "thousand injuries of Fortunato I have borne as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult I vowed revenge." (Poe 1-2) This first line is a prime example of that abnormal behavior because even though this might seem rational its not. Why would someone go as far as to horrifically murder that person just because of an insult. What's more is he doesn't really say what fortunate did to him. So this is another clear sign that Montressor's act of revenge is a sign of being insane.

As they progress into the catacombs Fortunato is bombarded by all these hints and clues about his coming doom but this is what truly is evil that montresor is truly insane enough and mad enough to make fortunato a fool. Some hints and clues is when fortunato is encumbered with a cough supposedly from the nitre and Montressor acts as though he is concerned and asks if they should go back in which in return Fortunato replies "The cough is a mere nothing, it will not kill me. I shall not die of a cough" (Poe paragraph 37). Which in reply Montresor says true true. Also Montressors coat of arms "the heel stomping on the snake that is biting the heel. As they get deeper and deper into the catacombs another thing that goes on between Montressor and Fortunato that stands out is when they talk about the freemasons which is a secret guild of members that have to deal with stonemasons. It starts when Fortunato accuses Montressor of not being a mason in which Montressor answers with by producing a trowel from his cloak which is the symbol of the alleged origin of the freemasons. Seeing the trowel and what we found out about this guild that Montressor is in, it plays a big twist because the trowel is what is used in inevetibly in Fortunato's death. Finnaly when they reach the end of the catacombs and unfortunately for Fortunato (which is an irony because of his name) gets tossed against the wall, and chained up. All the while he is still getting over the shock of what is happening to him. Montressor then proceeds to wall up the entrance using the "trowel" and mortar which he had hid off to the side. All the while Fortunato is pleading for his life or some kind of help. After a while he stops screaming, and trying to get free maybe because he sees his end as being imminent and then he says "he! he! he! - a very good joke, indeed- an excellent jest. We will have many a rich laugh about it at the palazzo" starting to get desperate, and then he says "But is it not getting late? Will not they be awaiting us at the palazzo, the lady Fortunato and the rest?" (Poe paragraphs 79 and 80). Meaning that his friends, and wife will be awaiting his return and he will be missed, probably saying that you will not get away with this, that too many people saw me leave with you. Then after his last attempt to save himself fails he then becomes silent and accepts his demise as he is being walled up. Montressor walls him up and Fortunato is never found for another 50 years.

Revenge is one of the main themes of Edgar Allan Poe's The Cask Of Amontillado.