The Irony In The Cask Of Amontillado

In the “Cask of Amontillado,” Edgar Allen Poe uses irony in setting to foreshadow the downfall of Fortunato. Poe uses the term cask in the title, but little do the readers know cask has a completely different meaning. Throughout the story, verbal irony is shown when Montresor uses different words and phrases that have other implications. Even Fortunato’s name and attire foreshadowed his untimely death. Looking at the title of this story Poe’s irony starts from the beginning. The word Cask is the first thing you read meaning a barrel of wine. However, cask is very similar to casket which would put the title of this story as casket or coffin of Amontillado. Dramatic Irony happens when the reader realizes what will happen to Fortunato despite
the fact that the character proceeds with his plummet into the catacombs on a quest for Amontillado. He believes he needs to taste this wine because he is the best. Already drunk and blinded by pride Montresor is now going to give him what he thinks he deserves for insulting him. Montresor uses backhanded comments and snide remarks as Fortunato is on his way to death. As Montresor takes Fortunato down into the catacombs his slight cold is bothered because of the nitre along the walls. Fortunato tells Montresor, "... the cough's a mere nothing; it will not kill me. I shall not die of a cough.” "True—true," replied Montresor. Implying he knows how his life will come to an end. More verbal irony occurs when the two men make a toast. Fortunato said, "I drink, to the buried that repose around us." Jokingly Montresor said, "And I to your long life." Unfortunately, Fortunato was making a toast to himself whereas Montresor was toasting to Fortunato’s life knowing it will not be a long one. Fortunato will soon join the dead that repose around him. Fortunato’s name happens to be very significant to this story.
It’s ironic that his name is Fortunato because he receives the most unfortunate surprise of all. Fortunato in Italian means lucky, but in this story, it just so happens to mean the exact opposite concluding much irony. His costume he has on for the carnival event makes Fortunato’s death a bit more pitiful. He his described to look something like a clown and is wearing a jingle bell hat on his head. Keep in mind, Fortunato is already drunk when Montresor takes him into the catacombs making his plan to kill him that much easier. Fortunato is now all the more eager to follow, less frightened, somewhat murky, and doesn't exactly get what is happening at first. So despite the fact that the festival is much unexpected for the morbid story to unfold at, it goes very much in Montresor's favor for everyone to be occupied celebrating while he takes care of Fortunato. Allowing Montresor to not get caught while bringing Fortunato to his death because there are no witnesses. The irony in the story compresses the mischievous route in which the relationship amongst Montresor and Fortunato is introduced by Poe. Montresor waiting fifty years to come forward with this dark secret is insane perhaps like Poe. He uses dark cleverness in Montresor's discussions with Fortunato, in his indirect suggestion at Fortunato's up and coming homicide, and makes a feeling of irony around death. What at last turns out as its genuine accomplishment
is the effective introduction of an effortlessly unmistakable part of human nature.