How Does Poe Use Irony For Fortunato's Downfall

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John Mackey Mrs. White Honors English 10/ 4th period 4 March 2012 Ironic Downfall into the Catacombs The literary devices irony and foreshadowing are used to accent one another. Edgar Allan Poe craftily uses both of these devices in order to make his stories tricky and deceitful to the characters but obvious to the reader. As the devices intertwine they allow for stories to become more complex and meaningful. In Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado”, Poe uses irony to foreshadow Fortunato’s downfall through the Montresor coat of arms, the origin of the characters’ names, and the use of the Free Masons. The Montresor family crest, the human foot d’or, accompanied by its motto, Nemo me impune lacesit (No one insults me with impunity),…show more content…
The meanings behind Fortunato’s name fully describe his life and lifestyle Fortunato is a respected man with a prosperous life, “He had a weak point – this Fortunato – although in other regards he was a man to be respected and even feared” (Poe 1). This lifestyle and personality that he portrays reflect the origin of his name well. Although Fortunato’s name correctly reflects his lifestyle, the irony of his name encompasses his downfall in its double meaning. Fortunato’s name has two meanings, “ The name Fortunato is realized in both of its ambiguous significance, as Fortunato, ‘the lucky one,’ gives way to Fortunato, ‘the fated one’” (Freehafer 316). The first meaning to his name gives credit to both his personality and lifestyle, but the second meaning comes into play when Fortunato is ironically picked to be the fated one to die. Montresor’s name describes his vengeful nature. Montresor sees it as his duty to make Fortunato see his downfall, “It was now midnight, and my task was drawing to a close” (Poe 5). Montresor must complete his revenge to save the honor of the family name. Montresor’s person reflects his name’s origin and meanings. His name, just as Fortunato’s, has dual meanings, “… ‘Montresor’ suggests ‘monster,’ but also, if traced to its French origin, the name combines the words montrer (to show) and sort (fate)” (Clendenning 336). The irony…show more content…
Fortunato’s failure to believe that Montresor was part of the brotherhood was a fatal mistake on his part. Fortunato is shocked to find out that Montresor is part of the brotherhood, “‘You? Impossible! A mason?’” (Poe 4). Ironically, Fortunato does not believe that Montresor is a Mason, and, in fact, he is not; but he will use a mason’s technique to entomb Fortunato. The irony is that even though Montresor is not a Free Mason, he is a mason as in a bricklayer. Montresor and Fortunato are two completely different types of masons, “In the language of Masonry itself, Fortunato is a ‘speculative’ Mason, but Montresor is an ‘operative’ –one who purposefully builds with trowel, stone, and mortar” (Freehafer 317). The fact that there are two different types of masons provides the ultimate ironic twist, allowing Montresor to have minimal knowledge of the Free Masons so he can claim to be one, but in reality he is simply a bricklaying mason which will lead to Fortuanto’s downfall. By juxtaposing two different types of masonry, Montresor ironically represents both meanings of this word as he leads Fortunato to his

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