Short Story Summary
“The Cask of Amontillado” begins with the narrator, Montresor, in an aggravating rant about being numerously insulted by an acquaintance, Fortunato. It is not revealed as to what Fortunato has done to Montresor and nor do we ever find out. Either way, Montresor seeks revenge and conjures up a genius plan to rid himself of Fortunato for good. Montresor is familiar with a weakness of Fortunato’s and intends to use it against him: wine.
During carnival season, Montresor runs into Fortunato who has already had a few drinks. Fortunato accosts him and Montresor strikes up a conversation claiming that he had received a barrel of Amontillado, but is doubtful of its quality. Fortunato is astounded that Montresor has a barrel of the Spanish Sherry. Montresor claimed to have been on his way to meet with a man named Luchresi who would be able to tell him if the barrel was truly Amontillado or just a cheap tub of Sherry. Fortunato discredits Luchresi and insists that he sample the wine himself. Fortunato grabs hold of Montresor’s arm and heads off to the vaults where the Amontillado is being kept. On their way to Montresor’s palazzo, he admits that no one is home having sent all of his servants off to enjoy the festivities at the carnival.
They arrive at Montresor’s home and immediately take hold of a couple flaming torches on their way down to the vaults. The vault walls are covered in nitre, also known as potassium nitrate, and Fortunato begins to excrete mucus from his eyes and cough uncontrollably. Montresor offers a precautionary measure for Fortunato and hands him a bottle of wine to drink during their extensive journey through the vaults. On their way, Fortunato becomes increasingly drunk, especially since Montresor continues to hand Fortunato full bottles of wine to drink.
The men reach the end of a crypt whose walls are covered with human remains except for one. The bones no longer ornament the one wall, but are laid in a large pile off to the side. The bare wall is recessed and Montresor convinces Fortunato that the barrel of Amontillado is inside. Fortunato enters and being heavily intoxicated doesn’t realize that Montresor has shackled him to a rock inside of the niche. Montresor uncovers a pile of stone and mortar that he had hidden beneath the bones and begins to lay a wall to trap Fortunato inside. Fortunato’s intoxication wears off and begins to scream and thrash at the chains. Montresor ignores him and continues to build the wall. Towards the end of Montresor’s masonry work, Fortunato laughs hoping that his friend is playing a joke on him saying that it was getting late and both men would be expected in the palazzo. Montresor cruelly humors and mocks Fortunato who then goes quiet. Montresor fits the final stone in place and stacks the bones back up again.