Literally Criticism: The Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allen Poe
Rafael G.
Literary Criticism: The Cask of Amontillado When doing anything in life there are so many alternative ways of looking at something with all of them being influenced by what you see in the world around you. A teacher may see things that contrast from a politician; a doctor as opposed to a writer. Even the differences from a man to a woman or what part of the country you grew up in can dilute one way of thinking from the next. That is why considering things in ways that you may not usually is important for understanding and critiquing certain situations and outcomes. With this train of thought, we will take a look at Edgar Allen Poe’s The Cask of Amontillado through five unique perspectives from different individuals. With each of these offering a better perception on what we know, and what we think we know.
Biographical/Genetic Criticism:
In an effort to better understand the story, one can look at it from a Genetic or Biographical point-of-view. Much of Edgar Allan Poe’s own personal life experiences greatly influence this story as well as many of his other works.
Poe’s choice of literary style was called gothic fiction. It deals with the subjects of secrets, madness, darkness and death. This gothic style of writing is greatly influenced by disappointment and depression that followed Poe his entire life. This was caused by a number of unfortunate events in his life, including the untimely death of his birth mother and foster mother, a lifetime of poverty, and his foster father, John Allan, who disowned Poe over an argument about family matters.
This argument with John Allen shows a possible reason for Montresor’s plot to murder Fortunato in The Cask of Amontillado. Montresor kills him due to his highly esteemed value of family honor. In the story, Fortunato learns that Montresor’s family moto is “Nemo me impune lacessit”, which means “No one insults me with impunity”. Fortunato insulted Montresor greatly, as the reader learns from the first line
Literary Criticism: The Cask of Amontillado When doing anything in life there are so many alternative ways of looking at something with all of them being influenced by what you see in the world around you. A teacher may see things that contrast from a politician; a doctor as opposed to a writer. Even the differences from a man to a woman or what part of the country you grew up in can dilute one way of thinking from the next. That is why considering things in ways that you may not usually is important for understanding and critiquing certain situations and outcomes. With this train of thought, we will take a look at Edgar Allen Poe’s The Cask of Amontillado through five unique perspectives from different individuals. With each of these offering a better perception on what we know, and what we think we know.
Biographical/Genetic Criticism:
In an effort to better understand the story, one can look at it from a Genetic or Biographical point-of-view. Much of Edgar Allan Poe’s own personal life experiences greatly influence this story as well as many of his other works.
Poe’s choice of literary style was called gothic fiction. It deals with the subjects of secrets, madness, darkness and death. This gothic style of writing is greatly influenced by disappointment and depression that followed Poe his entire life. This was caused by a number of unfortunate events in his life, including the untimely death of his birth mother and foster mother, a lifetime of poverty, and his foster father, John Allan, who disowned Poe over an argument about family matters.
This argument with John Allen shows a possible reason for Montresor’s plot to murder Fortunato in The Cask of Amontillado. Montresor kills him due to his highly esteemed value of family honor. In the story, Fortunato learns that Montresor’s family moto is “Nemo me impune lacessit”, which means “No one insults me with impunity”. Fortunato insulted Montresor greatly, as the reader learns from the first line