Hello and welcome to the Discourse. The Cask of Amontillado is a short story by Edgar Allan Poe in the November 1846 issue of Godey’s Lady’s Book, an American women’s magazine published from 1830 to 1898. The story employs a first-person point of view, creating an intimate and unreliable narration that enhances the suspense and psychological depth.
The story is often considered the best short story written by Poe. It is a masterful exploration of revenge, pride, and the darker aspects of human nature. The story is very simple but has a lot of verbal and dramatic ironies that increase the reader's interest.
Characters of The Cask of Amontillado:
Montresor is the main character and the narrator of the story. He is a cunning and vengeful individual who seeks to punish Fortunato for an unspecified insult. He exhibits traits of intelligence and manipulation. He mentions that he is telling about an incident that happened some fifty years ago, suggesting that a somewhat older Montresor was never discovered and has not greatly changed his opinion that the crime was justified. Montresor’s reason for revenge remains ambiguous and unclear throughout the story, and it could be a case of mad violence. He is narrating the story to someone with whom he trusts. Fortunato is Montresor’s unsuspecting victim, his friend who has insulted Montresor in some way. It is not clear how wrong Fortunato was or if he deserved the kind of vengeance he suffered. He is a wine connoisseur who is prideful and intoxicated by his own expertise. He represents the folly of arrogance as he blindly trusts Montresor.
Luchesi is a minor character mentioned in the story. He is a rival wine connoisseur to Fortunato, used by Montresor to provoke Fortunato's jealousy and tempt him to taste the wine in his family’s vaults. Fortunato repeatedly insults Luchesi for his lack of intellect but fails to notice any ill-intentions of Montresor and appears even more of a dupable fool.
Summary of The Cask of Amontillado:
The story takes place during the carnival season in an unnamed Italian city. Montresor explains to an unknown audience that someone named Fortunato has injured him repeatedly and has recently insulted him. He says that he can stand no more and vows revenge upon Fortunato. He mentions that has never let Fortunato know of his hatred because he wants to fulfill his vow without placing himself at risk. He also says that his vengeance would not be complete if Fortunato were to retaliate or if Fortunato died without knowing Montresor to be his murderer. Thus, he attempts a perfectly planned murder.
It was the carnival season and much of frivolity and celebrations were going on. One evening, Montresor finds Fortunato in a drunken state. Fortunato is dressed in a jester's outfit, suggesting that he is enjoying the carnival. Montresor approaches and greets Fortunato saying, he was lucky to find him. He obsequiously asks his opinion on a newly acquired cask of Amontillado. He says that he has recently bought a sample of sherry and wishes Fortunato to confirm that it is Amontillado, a rare, precious wine. Montresor knows that Fortunato loves rare wines and tantalizes him with the rare liquor. However, he notices that Fortunato is already drunk, so he tempts him more. He says that perhaps Fortunato might be too busy and that Montresor might have Luchesi taste it instead. This instigates Fortunato who doesn’t like Luchesi much. He insults Luchesi's skill with wines and insists on accompanying Montresor to the vaults to taste the Amontillado. Montresor says that it might not be good for Fortunato because his vaults are quite damp and full of nitre that may cause cold. Fortunato insists on having a chance to taste the rare wine. Montresor then puts on a mask of black silk and cloaks himself and leads Fortunato to his home.
Previously, Montresor told all his servants that he would be late at night and had told them to leave and join the carnival. Thus, when Montresor brings Fortunato to this home, there is no one to see them. He tells him that he has kept the rare wine safe in his vaults back behind the catacombs of his ancestors. He takes two torches and, handing one to Fortunato, leads Fortunato into the Montresor catacombs.
The passageway was damp and full of nitre (Potassium Nitrate). Fortunato was already suffering cold and nitre could have increased his allergic symptoms. Fortunato begins coughing heavily. Montresor shows false concern and offers some Madoc wine to help him. This seeming act of concern and sympathy too was a trick to keep the victim alive long enough to get him to the niche where he will be buried alive. He wonders that ill-health may prompt Fortunato to decline the offer of tasting Amontillado and hence, he again mentions Luchesi to tempt him more. He offers to call bring Luchesi as Fortunato is unwell. Fortunato feels insulted, he abuses Luchesi again and insists on continuing. Fortunato drinks Madoc to the dead, and Montresor drinks to Fortunato's long life.
Fortunato observes the vastness of Montesor’s vaults and Montresor replies that the Montresors were a large family.
Fortunato says that he has forgotten what Montresor's coat of arms looks like. Montesor feels blatantly insulted again as if Fortunato is depreciating the reputation of his family. Montresor belongs to an established family. His house had once been noble and respected but has fallen slightly in status. Fortunato, as his name suggests, has been blessed with good fortune and wealth and Montresor feels he is mocking him. He calmly answers that his family's coat of arms has on it "a huge human foot d'or [foot of gold], in a field azure; the foot crushes a serpent rampant whose fangs are imbedded in the heel" and that the family motto is "Nemo me impune lacessit" (No one attacks me with impunity). The motto and the coat of arms of Montresor’s family suggest that they are historically known for their acts of revenge. As they walk deeper into the catacombs, Fortunato remains drunk and the bells on his costume jingle.
Fortunato finishes the bottle of Madoc and throws it peculiarly. Montresor notices it and asks why he threw the bottle this way. Fortunato again makes a jibe and mentions that Montresor is not good enough to be a Freemason and that is why he doesn’t know the gesture. Montresor again feels offended and claims that he is now a Freemason. Fortunato laughs and says that while he has a trowel in his cloak, Montresor doesn’t have that insignia.
Montresor takes him deeper into the vault where Fortunato sees a small crypt lined with human remains. He notices a small gap in the granite wall. He tries to look into the crypt but because of the strong smell of nitre and dampness, he fails to see. Montresor says that he has kept the Amontillado in the crypt and again asks if he should bring Luchesi to taste. This further instigates Fortunato and he drunkenly walks forth into the gap. Montresor quickly acts and chains him to the granite wall.
Being drunk, Fortunato is almost unaware of what is happening. Montresor mocks Fortunato and asks him again if he is well. Fortunato asks him about Amontillado and Montresor says that he will bring it soon. Then he reveals a pile of building stone and mortar that has been hidden by bones. Montresor then begins to wall up the gap, with Fortunato inside.
Fortunato, being drunk, feels as if Montresor is playing some game. Montresor lays the first tier of the wall before Fortunato revives with a moan from his drunken state. He quickly raises three more tiers of bricks. Fortunato begins feeling the danger and hastily shakes his chain. Montresor continues to raise layers of stone while enjoying the sound of the shaking of chains. By midnight, Montresor almost completes the wall with just one stone to be added to immure Fortunato in the wall. (Immure means to enclose someone in a closed space against their will until their death, or to bury someone alive). Before setting the last stone, Montresor takes the torch and looks up in the gap. He notices that Fortunato is now fully aware of what is happening. Fortunato weakly asks Montresor to end the joke and free him. Montresor mocks him and sets the last stone. He stays there to listen if Fortunato has something to say, but he hears nothing but the jingling of bells of Fortunato’s jester costume. Montresor feels a bit sick but he says that it might be because of dampening and nitre. He readjusts the pile of bones to hide the new wall and comes out.
He mentions that the catacomb remained undisturbed for the next fifty years. Montresor ends his tale by wishing Fortunato a peaceful rest.
Irony in “The Cask of Amontillado”
Verbal Irony - The name "Fortunato" translates to "fortunate" in Italian, which is ironic given his fate. He is anything but fortunate as he meets his demise. Montresor toasts Fortunato's long life while planning his murder. This juxtaposition highlights the deceit behind Montresor’s words.
Situational Irony - The story takes place during a festive carnival, a time of joy and celebration, contrasting sharply with the dark act of murder that occurs in the catacombs. Furthermore, Fortunato is confident in his wine expertise and believes he is in control, yet he is ultimately led to his death by Montresor's cunning.
Dramatic Irony – Fortunato’s dress of Jester with jingling bells is an irony against what he has to suffer. While he is already suffering from cough and Montresor continues to warn him about dampness and nitre in his family’s catacombs, he disregards this advice as Montresor tempts him by mentioning he could bring Luchesi to taste the wine.
So this is it for today. We will continue to discuss the history of American English Literature. Please stay connected. Thanks and Regards!
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