Edgar Allen Poe's Admirable Character

When looked at for the first time, Montresor in Edgar Allan Poe's The Cask of Amontillado may seem disturbing. Montresor has plans to murder a man, Fortunato, for insulting him and plans on doing so by walling him up in the catacombs under his home. Montresor devises a clever plan that will leave Fortunato clueless as to his intensions. Upon a closer look, this character is admirable. Montresor carries out his plan successfully without being caught. He does this by using traits that are commendable at the very least. Montresor is Poe's most admirable character because he is patient, extremely confident, and very calculated.

Montresor is admirable because throughout the story, he is very patient. In the beginning of the story, he tells of how he will get his revenge over time. He says, "At length I would be avengedÐ'..." (1442). Through all of the time that he waits to enforce his plan upon the unsuspecting Fortunato, he "neither by word nor deed had I given Fortunato cause to doubt my good will" (1442). He even smiles at Fortunato when he sees him. This smile is not one of happiness but of a smile at the thought of Fortunato's death. Montresor does not approach Fortunato in efforts to persuade him to fall into the trap that he has set for him. He wants to make himself felt when he has completed his revenge, and to do this he has to wait for the moment when Fortunato feels comfortable going with him to a place out of the site of by passers. Montresor waits and finally finds this moment "during the supreme madness of the carnival seasonÐ'..." (1442). It is fortunate that Montresor finds this moment because when he does he is "so pleased to see him that I should never have done wringing his hand" (1442). He has waited long enough and now is the time.

Poe's Montresor is admirable because he is also incredibly confident. Before he starts on his journey with Fortunato, Montresor confidently asks Fortunato if he would like for him to get another person to taste the wine. Fortunato replies, "Luchresi cannot tell Amontillado from Sherry" (1442), (Luchresi being the other wine connoisseur). Throughout their walk through the catacombs, Montresor repeatedly asks Fortunato if he would like to go back. Fortunado, being conceded about his abilities to tell a good wine from an imitation, thoughtlessly agrees to continue to go deeper into the catacombs with Montresor, even though he is sick and seems to be get worse as they go further and further into the dark, damp catacombs. Montresor even asks if he would like to go back because of his health. Fortunato says it "is a mere nothing" (1443) and they continue. A gesture is made by Fortunato pertaining to him being a mason. He asks if Montresor is a mason and Montresor replies, "Yes, yes, yes, yes" (1444). He then holds up a trowel. Fortunato laughs about it but fails to wonder why Montresor has a trowel under his coat. Montresor hints to Fortunato in these subtle ways and Fortunato continues to be unsuccessful in being alarmed by them. His confidence is so great that Montresor asks Fortunato if he would like to return enough times that one would think he does not want Fortunato to go any further.

Another admirable trait of Montresor is that he is very calculated and careful with his plan and the