A dark and sinister murder plot unfolds itself in Edgar Allen Poe’s story, “The Cask of Amontillado.” Poe’s attempt to enthrall and entertain his audience is carried out as the deception of a perceived friendship by Montresor for Fortunato reveals itself to be a ruse to lure Fortunato into the deep catacombs of Montresor’s family vault with the promise of sampling a dry Spanish sherry, Amontillado. Montresor enacts his revenge upon Fortunato in this spellbinding tale due to “the thousand injuries” and “insult” despite the obvious omission of evidence by Poe (Poe, 1846). Upon this, the reader is left to envision and interpret the reasons why as the conspiracy is unveiled.
Montresor narrates this …show more content…
In addition, Montresor’s stage was fitting, the Montresor family fault where the dead remains of his ancestors lay. What better place for Montresor to enact his own brand of justice. The journey was long as they proceeded to the very bottom of the vault, only stopping to enjoy some wine to further inebriate Fortunato. All the while, Montresor continues to implore Fortunato to return, pretending to care for his health of his friend. Quite the contradiction is noted in Poe’s writing as Fortunato was anything but a friend and there was an obvious lack of concern for Fortunato as Montresor had every intention of killing …show more content…
As exclaimed by Montresor, “You are rich, respected, admired, beloved; you are happy, as once I was” (Poe, 1846). Perhaps the reasons have to do with Montresor’s jealousy of Fortunato and being born into a family of wealth and privilege. Maybe something more was taken from Montresor by Fortunato besides Montresor’s pride. A pride that was apparently bruised by Fortunato, made clearer as they proceeded through the vaults when Fortunato mentions he forgot the Montresor’s arms or family crest. A crest depicting “A huge human foot d’or, in a field azure; the foot crushes a serpent rampant whose fangs are imbedded in the heal” with the family motto of “Nemo me impune lacessit” (Poe, 1846). The family motto meaning, no one attacks me with impunity or unpunished. Very befitting is Poe’s choice of emblem and slogan as Fortunato was certainly not going to be unpunished for his