Transcript:
The Cask of Amontillado: The Consequences of an Absent Mind
In “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allen Poe, a vengeful mason, Montressor, gets revenge on his arrogant enemy, Fortunato. Throughout the story, the reader can see how Montressor’s hate for Fortunato is transformed into a series of actions that lead to a murder. From Montressor’s perspective, we can see how calculated and observant he is of Fortunato. Throughout the story he remains focused on catching his prey. On the other hand, Fortunato is absent-minded and falls prey to Montressor’s murderous scheme. In “the Cask of Amontillado,” Poe’s language shows the dangers of being absent-minded through addition of irony and symbolism.
The story begins in a jovial carnival set in an Italian city. Here there were bright colors which brought feelings of celebration. Likewise A wine connoisseur, Fortunato is in a celebratory mood as he drinks himself to a drunken state. Later, he meets with a colleague named Montressor, who is secretly planning Fortunato’s death. Afterwards, Montressor lures Fortunato to his home, where he executes his plan, and murders him. The story takes place from the first-person perspective of Montressor and depicts him as the protagonist.
Throughout the story, Poe makes an example of Fortunato by mocking him with irony. For example, his impending death is made into a joke as Montressor address Fortunato with, “My dear Fortunato, you are luckily met” (Poe, para. 5). This is the first example of dramatic irony shown in the text. The reader is informed that Fortunato meets his end in the opening paragraphs, however, in the first encounter between the two characters, the author decides to call Fortunato lucky; as if something good is waiting for Fortunato. However, the reader knows Fortunato is truly being met with death.
The next example of dramatic irony being used to teach a lesson is when Montressor states, “we will go back; your health is precious” (Poe, para. 35). There are many lines like this throughout the text in which Montresor makes his foe falsely feel safe. Again, the reader knows that Montressor hates Fortunato, and does not care about his health, even more, he wants to take it away by killing him. Also, the story is a retelling of an event that already occurred so the reader knows the murderous deed has already been done. So when Montressor talks about taking him “back” the reader knows that it is false. Even more, it was a ploy used by Montresor to once again falsely comfort his foe into trusting him.
The third time Fortunato was turned into a joke through irony was when the two characters were making their way to the wine cellar. Fortunato was skeptical of his friend Montressor being a mason since he did not know the masons’ hand signal. When Montressor replies that he is a mason Fortunato says “you? Impossible! A mason?”(Poe, para. 61).
From this Fortunato shows that he does not believe in Montressors capabilities of working in masonry. However, at the end of the story, Montressor builds a wall so strong around Fortunato that it kills him. Montressor speaks, “It was now midnight, and my task was drawing to a close. I had completed the eighth, the ninth, and the tenth tier. I had finished a portion of the last and the eleventh; there remained but a single stone to be fitted and plastered in. I struggled with its weight; I placed it partially in its destined position” (Poe, para. 79). This detailed sequence of events showed the craftsmanship that Montressor truly possessed. So, it is ironic that Fortunato doubts Montressors capabilities, and ends up seeing them in action.
Next, throughout the story, Poe contrasts Montressors calculated and focused mind from the absent mind of Fortunato. Montressor is analyzing Fortunato when he stated, “He had a weak point — this Fortunato — although in other regards he was a man to be respected and even feared. He prided himself on his connoisseurship in wine. In painting and gemmary, Fortunato, like his countrymen, was a quack, but in the matter of old wines he was sincere” (Poe, para. 3). This line of thought reveals that Montresor is sizing up his opponent by determining his faults and strengths and even comparing Fortunato to himself.
With this mindset, Montressor triumphs over his oblivious foe. He swiftly delivers him to death. With no hesitations or mistakes, Montressors character emulates death. Through symbolism, Montressor can be seen as the grim reaper as he stated, “Putting on a mask of black silk and drawing a roquelaire closely about my person, I suffered him to hurry me to my palazzo”(Poe, para. 23). From this, the black mask worn by Montressor is a symbol of impending death. Also in this quote, Fortunato “possessed himself of Montressor’s arm” while Montressor carried him to his house. The imagery depicted by Poe, shows Montressor as a grim reaper, dressed as death, and carrying a befuddled Fortunato away from the public.
On the flip side, Fortunato was symbolized as a jester to represent his foolishness. First, the irony of Fortunato believing Montressor was his friend leading to his death, made Fortunato into a joke. Throughout the story, Fortunato makes foolish decisions like when Montressor states, “he raised it to his lips with a leer. He paused and nodded to me familiarly, while his bells jingled” (Poe, para 40). This shows that Fortunato’s decision to keep drinking wine was a foolish decision as the quote ends with his “bells” jingling.
In conclusion, Poe used symbolism and irony to show the dangers of being absent-minded. Continuously, The author contrasts Fortunato’s foolishness with Montressors focused mind to highlight the difference between the two personalities, and in the end Fortunato’s absent mind gets him killed as he falls for Montressors plan of vengeance.
References:
“The Cask of Amontillado.” YouTube, 11 Feb. 2021, www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fhExYkBl4Y.
“Phantom Venetian Masquerade Half Face Party Mask – Black: Black Masquerade Mask, Mask, Masquerade Mask.” Pinterest, 17 Apr. 2020, www.pinterest.com/pin/750904937858944134/.
Poe, Edgar Allan. “The Cask of Amontillado.” Edgar Allan Poe Museum, 3 July 2021,
https://poemuseum.org/the-cask-of-amontillado/.
Poe, Edgar Allan. “The Cask of Amontillado”. Godey’s Lady’s Books, 1846.
Featured Image:
Goodreads.com, for free and fair reuse