Close Reading

     “The Cask of Amontillado” is a first person point of view story that has the grotesqueness and gothic feel that Edgar Allan Poe’s other works encompass. Poe was part of the Romantic Movement and his stories follow the criteria and contain elements of Romanticism. One component of the story that is the main constituent as to why we know very little, yet know just enough is because the story puts emphasis on emotion rather than reason which adds to the main theme: revenge isn’t a logical solution to any sort of problem especially when the person seeking revenge relies whole heartedly on their emotions to guide them into action, not to mention the lack of evidence Montresor has to support his claims against Fortunato, which may be why Montresor decided to take care of the problem himself instead of relying on the court system.
     Montresor is a dramatic and passionate character to the point where he is set on revenge against the disrespect and insult that Fortunato has shown to him. Unfortunately, he fails to mention as to what Fortunato has done to make Montresor loathe him so fiercely. Montresor is the epidemy of a sociopath. Throughout the entire story, Montresor openly mocks Fortunato by calling him “friend” and doing everything in his power to make Fortunato feel comfortable. Montresor also tries to convince Fortunato to turn back numerous times, but he doesn’t do it out of concern for his “friend,” he merely does it to lure Fortunato into a false sense of security and trust. Montresor takes pleasure out of playing Fortunato and deceiving him. Fortunato is a weak man and very fond of wine. Despite every warning that should have scared Fortunato into turning back and forgetting about the Amontillado, he still pressed on, because he so desired to drink the Sherry. Montresor and Fortunato are both major characters; they are the only two characters in action while the other characters are mentioned but never introduced. Montresor is a static character because he doesn’t change by the end of the story. If anything he is only pleased to be rid of his “friend.” The reader doesn’t get to know Fortunato intimately, but given that his weakness is wine and that he desperately wants the Amontillado, it shows that he didn’t change at all because he fell into Montresor’s trap. But in actuality, Fortunato is a dynamic character because he had changed at the very end. He is feeble, he did fall for Montresor’s trap, and he did make a fool of himself, but he shows a bit of strength and gains a bit of power at the end when he refuses to answer Montresor’s call the final time.
     The story is set during carnival season around dusk in Italy. Montresor observes how chaotic the festivities are when he and Fortunato run into one another. The madness of Montresor is matched by the madness of the carnival. Poe purposely made the scene parallel with Montresor’s mind set to further emphasize the emotion. Montresor is found by Fortunato who is wearing a court jester’s outfit. The readers take on Fortunato’s character is further embellished, because he is wearing a costume that makes him look like a fool. Montresor’s costume is the complete opposite; he wears a black silk mask that makes him look like an undertaker which foreshadows the events to come.
     Other than the mask and jester costume, Poe uses many other elements to foreshadow Fortunato’s doom. Before both men descend into the vaults, Fortunato coughs uncontrollably for several minutes from the nitre. Montresor suggests the men go back and forget about the Amontillado, but Fortunato says, “…the cough’s a mere nothing; it will not kill me. I shall not die of a cough,” and Montresor replies, “True—true.” Montresor and the audience already know the fate of Fortunato. This scene merely adds a bit of humor and entertainment for Montresor. Afterwards, while the men are walking through the vaults, Fortunato claims that he doesn’t remember Montresor’s family coat of arms. Montresor replies, “A huge human foot d’or, in a field azure; the foot crushes a serpent rampant whose fangs are imbedded in the heel,” with a motto stating “Nemo me impune lacessit” which means “No one provokes me with impunity.” In the beginning of the story, Montresor declares, “I must not only punish but punish with impunity,” meaning to punish without consequence. Poe strategically links the story back to the beginning and reminds us of Montresor’s state of mind. Montresor plans on never getting caught which is intriguing because the audience begins to wonder how he is going to get rid of Fortunato without anyone ever finding out. Later, the men begin to converse about masons and Montresor proves he is from a family of masons when he pulls out a trowel. The reader gets a small glimpse as to what Montresor has in store for Fortunato when he reveals the masonry tool. Finally, the men reach the end of the tunnel and are surrounded by human bones stacked upon the walls. The men are in a place of death and any sober person who was thinking clearly would know that a person doesn’t store alcohol in a crypt deep within a catacomb. Not to mention the one wall is bare with a small recess where Montresor claims the wine to be stored. It is the perfect crime to bury a person alive in a crypt surrounded by human remains, because people who respect the dead and their ancestors wouldn’t dare disturb their final resting place. Montresor obviously has no respect for the dead. He barely has any respect for human life and it’s no surprise that he disturbed the bones of his ancestors to hide the body of his enemy.
     At the very end when Montresor is putting up the wall Fortunato cries out to him, “For the love of God,” and Montresor replies, “Yes, for the love of God.” This could be an answer for the reader as to the motive and reason behind Montresor’s actions or it could just be Montresor mocking Fortunato. Montresor may have sought revenge against Fortunato because he may be doing it for God by putting his word from the bible into action, an eye for an eye, or like calling Fortunato “friend” Montresor may be giving him false hope by mocking Fortunato’s desperation to throw God into the middle of whatever conflict there is between the two men. Fortunato must believe Montresor is mocking him for he refuses to answer Montresor’s call.
     In the last passage, Montresor admits that his “heart grew sick” and it was “the dampness of the catacombs that made it so.” Is he possibly feeling guilty for burying Fortunato alive leaving him to die and trying to convince himself otherwise or is he not satisfied that Fortunato refused to answer his call thereby taking away any pleasure that Montresor may have felt by overpowering and defeating his enemy? Montresor may have wanted one last desperate plea for mercy from Fortunato to make himself feel more victorious and powerful. Fortunato wised up and refused to give Montresor the satisfaction he craved to end the perfect crime.