Cask Of Amontillado

The Perfect Killer

Edgar Allen Poe's brings us a twisted tale of vengeance and horror in "The

Cask of Amontillado." Poe's character, Montresor, acts as our guide and

narrator through this story. He grabs a hold of the reader as he tells the

story from his own apathetic and deceptive mind to gain vengeance from the

weak and dismal Fortunato. Montresor's mentality is disturbing as he uses his

clever, humor, ironic symbolism, and darkness to accomplish this.

At the beginning of the story, Montresor tells us that he has vowed vengeance

on Fortunato. Montresor also states "I must not only punish, but punish with

impunity. A wrong is underdressed when retribution overtakes its redresser. It

is equally underdressed when the avenger fails to make himself felt as such to

him who has done wrong." (Poe 673). This means that not only will he get his

vengeance, but Fortunato will know that Montresor is his demise. Poe has not

only shown that Montresor is a killer, but a killer with a set of rules that

he will follow until Fortunato's death. I believe this is the most important

part of the story. It creates an interest, sets the plot, and provides an

insight into Montresor's twisted mind.

Montresor's reason for murdering Fortunato stems only from insults, and no way

is this justification to kill Fortunato. It is reason to note though that

Montresor apparently does not like Italians in the first place, "Few Italians

have the true virtuoso spirit. For the most part their enthusiasm is adopted

to suit the time and opportunity - to practice imposture upon the British and

Austrian millionaires. In painting and gemmary Fortunato, like his countrymen,

was a quake-..." (Poe 674). Montresor feels that Fortunato is a fake just like

his countrymen. So quiet possibly Montresor's validation for were a great and

numerous family." (Poe 675). This could imply that Montresor is bitter of the

fact that his family no longer has the lustrous and honorable name it once

had, and this is his attack on the society he hates.

It is obvious that this is murder is premeditated. Montresor has sent

his staff home and told not to disturb the house. He has also waited until

Carnival to execute his plan, which brings up two points. The first being that

Montresor has waited until this time because the town is disordered and

Fortunato will be drunk. The second point is a deeper thought that was brought

up in which Carnival season is a time when rules are suspended and abnormality

is accepted. This is when you can put on a mask; act without regret or

boundaries, then take off the mask and continue on with normal life. I believe

this shows an admirable quality of patience and determination in Montresor

since he has waited all this time to execute his plan.

Once Montresor has Fortunato in his home, he begins to express his

dark and deceiving humor. I believe this is a necessity and one of the rules

that Montresor must follow in order to feel full retribution. Montresor shows

us this ironic behavior when he hands Fortunato a bottle of De Grвve to drink.

Another humorous point of the story is when Fortunato says "the cough is a

mere nothing; it will not kill me. I shall not die of a cough." (Poe 675) To

which Montresor replies "True - true..." This dark humor shows how collected

and calm Montresor is. He isn't nervous