Analysis of Cask of Amontillado

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Analysis of “The Cask of Amontillado” Edgar Allan Poe’s short story, “The Cask of Amontillado”, tells the struggles between two men that ultimately lead to one’s untimely death. One of the major themes Poe used was that revenge is never as fulfilling as expected. Ironically, the perfect revenge didn’t leave the main character, Montresor, feeling the way he had hoped. Instead, he was left with a tortured conscious. Poe used symbolism to emphasize the pure disdain that Montresor felt for Fortunato, and the inevitable danger ahead. Edgar Allan Poe’s short story has multiple themes throughout. Revenge is conveyed as a driving factor, Montresor says he won’t stop until he gets revenge for his family. He states, “The thousand injuries Fortunato I had borne as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult I vowed revenge. You, who so well know the nature of my soul, will not suppose, however, that I gave utterance to a threat. At length I would be avenged” (Poe, Para 1). Revenge drives humans to great lengths, but eventually, most people will learn that, it is not worth it. The thoughts of revenge plagued Montresor to perform unthinkable acts of retaliation against his adversary, Fortunato. These thoughts haunted him until his final days, as indicated in the last two sentences: “Of the half of a century no mortal had disturbed them. In pace requiescat” (Poe, para 8). This suggests that Montresor was on his deathbed and finally asking for forgiveness. This proves that vengeance conquers even the highest of men. Another theme that Poe used was that of how alcohol can cloud the perception of even the slyest of men. Montresor was able to easily manipulate Fortunato during Fortunato’s drunken stupor. If Fortunato was not continuing to drink with Montresor then Fortunato may have been able to think reasonably and escape his fate. Poe writes, “A draught

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