The Theme of Masonry in a Cask of Amontillado
The fundamental question in Edgar Allan Poe 's "A Cask of Amontillado" is
the nature of Montresor 's motive for the revenge he "vowed" to obtain when
Fortunato "ventured upon insult" (209). Montresor believes a wrong is
"unredressed when the avenger fails to make himself felt as such to him who has
done the wrong" (209). While Montresor endeavors to make his vengeance
known to Fortunato, the author 's references to Masonry in his use of
characterization, setting and irony indicate Montresor 's motive.
Fortunato throws back a bottle of wine in a "gesticulation [Montresor] did
not understand," a sign of the Masons, a secret society of which he affirms he is
a member (212). This secrecy is emulated in Montresor 's slaughter of his foe.
Montresor 's deadly act, he himself, and ultimately Fortunato are shrouded
in secrecy. Montresor 's destruction of his foe is carried out at dusk. He leads
Fortunato through the darkness "down a long and winding staircase" "into the
inmost recesses of the catacombs" "at the most remote end of the crypt" (211).
Montresor dons an appropriate "mask of black silk" and wraps a "roquelaire
closely about his person" (210). Within this cloth is concealed a trowel, the
instrument of Fortunato 's destruction. Masonry is cloaked. The reader again sees
this when presented the bones that "lay promiscuously upon the earth" beneath
which lay the "building stone and mortar" that are used to forever seal Fortunato 's
fate (212-13). Montresor 's use of secrecy in the destruction of his adversary is
significant as it relates to Fortunato 's status as a Mason.
A mason shrouds a Mason in masonry. In addition to this fundamental
instance of situational irony, there is also a dramatic irony that Poe creates by
allowing the reader to know Fortunato 's ultimate destruction while Fortunato is
entirely unaware. When Montresor asserts that he is indeed a mason (aware
the nature of Montresor 's motive for the revenge he "vowed" to obtain when
Fortunato "ventured upon insult" (209). Montresor believes a wrong is
"unredressed when the avenger fails to make himself felt as such to him who has
done the wrong" (209). While Montresor endeavors to make his vengeance
known to Fortunato, the author 's references to Masonry in his use of
characterization, setting and irony indicate Montresor 's motive.
Fortunato throws back a bottle of wine in a "gesticulation [Montresor] did
not understand," a sign of the Masons, a secret society of which he affirms he is
a member (212). This secrecy is emulated in Montresor 's slaughter of his foe.
Montresor 's deadly act, he himself, and ultimately Fortunato are shrouded
in secrecy. Montresor 's destruction of his foe is carried out at dusk. He leads
Fortunato through the darkness "down a long and winding staircase" "into the
inmost recesses of the catacombs" "at the most remote end of the crypt" (211).
Montresor dons an appropriate "mask of black silk" and wraps a "roquelaire
closely about his person" (210). Within this cloth is concealed a trowel, the
instrument of Fortunato 's destruction. Masonry is cloaked. The reader again sees
this when presented the bones that "lay promiscuously upon the earth" beneath
which lay the "building stone and mortar" that are used to forever seal Fortunato 's
fate (212-13). Montresor 's use of secrecy in the destruction of his adversary is
significant as it relates to Fortunato 's status as a Mason.
A mason shrouds a Mason in masonry. In addition to this fundamental
instance of situational irony, there is also a dramatic irony that Poe creates by
allowing the reader to know Fortunato 's ultimate destruction while Fortunato is
entirely unaware. When Montresor asserts that he is indeed a mason (aware
Cited: Poe, Edgar Allan. "A Cask of Amontillado." Literature: Reading, Reacting, Writing. Ed. Laurie G. Kirszner and Stephen R. Mandell. Orlando: Harcourt, 1997. 209-14.