The Cask of Amontillado!
The Cask of Amontillado! Duplicity abounds in this tale of an aristocrat obsessed with retribution against his friend. "The Cask of Amontillado" by Edgar Allan Poe enchants the reader to experience the damp catacombs to witness the premeditated act. Through the excitement of the carnival, the two walk together into the caverns to substantiate a bottle of wine. The theme is when someone is unable to overlook minor infractions; it can turn into deep hatred. The irony Poe skillfully added is dominant from the introduction of the characters to the bone chilling end.
Being told in first person by Montresor, Poe thrusts the reader into a believable tale, though the narrator may not be reliable or trusted solely because of his actions. Kishel explains, “The participant approach by the narrator plunges the reader directly into the story, effectively making it more interesting because the reader feels as though they are in the story rather than reading it. "Montresor tells the story to a presumably appreciative listener, someone capable of relishing its many ironies" (Kishel).
The story begins immediately, drawing the reader into "the supreme madness" (4) of a Mardi Gras type festival in Italy. The character wears "tight-fitting party-striped dress" (4) and a "conical cap and bells" (4) on his head. They put cloaks on as they walk to the vaults. Though no dates are mentioned, there is no doubt the confession takes place fifty years after the event. Bloom interprets, "Poe suggests that Montresor may be telling his tale to his confessor, 'you who know so well the nature of my soul, ' perhaps on his deathbed" (Bloom).
Poe develops the characters instantly in the story. Montresor is the antagonist. He is round and static throughout the development of the story. He is arrogant and does not feel sorry for his actions; in contrast, he is extremely satisfied with what he has done. The reader gets the sense that Montresor simply applies what he believes is justice upon
Being told in first person by Montresor, Poe thrusts the reader into a believable tale, though the narrator may not be reliable or trusted solely because of his actions. Kishel explains, “The participant approach by the narrator plunges the reader directly into the story, effectively making it more interesting because the reader feels as though they are in the story rather than reading it. "Montresor tells the story to a presumably appreciative listener, someone capable of relishing its many ironies" (Kishel).
The story begins immediately, drawing the reader into "the supreme madness" (4) of a Mardi Gras type festival in Italy. The character wears "tight-fitting party-striped dress" (4) and a "conical cap and bells" (4) on his head. They put cloaks on as they walk to the vaults. Though no dates are mentioned, there is no doubt the confession takes place fifty years after the event. Bloom interprets, "Poe suggests that Montresor may be telling his tale to his confessor, 'you who know so well the nature of my soul, ' perhaps on his deathbed" (Bloom).
Poe develops the characters instantly in the story. Montresor is the antagonist. He is round and static throughout the development of the story. He is arrogant and does not feel sorry for his actions; in contrast, he is extremely satisfied with what he has done. The reader gets the sense that Montresor simply applies what he believes is justice upon
Cited: Poe, Edgar Allan. “The Cask of Amontillado.” Beverly Lawn. 40 Short Stories: A Portable Anthology. Third Edition. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin 2006. 14-20. PRINT Harold Bloom. "The Ironic Double In Poe 's "The Cask Of Amontillado." Bloom 's Modern Critical Interpretations: The Tales Of Poe(1987): 55-61. Literary Reference Center. Web. 4 Dec. 2012. Kishel, Joseph F. "Poe 's THE CASK OF AMONTILLADO." Explicator 41.1 (1982): 30. Literary Reference Center. Web. 4 Dec. 2012. Mustafa, Jamil M. "Literary Contexts In Short Stories: Edgar Allan Poe 's "The Cask Of Amontillado." Literary Contexts In Short Stories: Edgar Allan Poe 's 'The Cask Of Amontillado ' (2006): 1. Literary Reference Center. Web. 4 Dec. 2012.