Literary Analysis

Today, I will be analyzing the Cask of Amontillado, exploring topics such as theme, setting, point of view, characterization, and more. I hope you find what I have seen to be informative and insightful! 

1. Theme

Revenge may become an extremely blinding force, and take over one's every thought, causing them to do unthinkable evils. 

2. Setting

-WHEN: During the carnival season.

-WHERE: In the catacombs, but also at the carnival at the very beginning. 

-WHO: Montressor and Fortunato were the main characters of this story.

-MOOD: The mood of this story is quite dark and evil, we can see this through the diction used such as when Montressor states that he, "must not only punish but punish with impuity." This type of language gives the reader the feeling of the darkness and hatred inside of Montressor. Another way to see this, is through the setting, as they are walking through those dark and dismal catacombs, it can give the reader that death feeling. 

-CULTURAL CONTEXT: The language used would definitely not be used today, it is very formal and fancy. This is how they would talk in that time. Another context that can be found would be the catacombs, because those were very big in those times as the Christians would hide there with the dead and no one would go after them because they were too afraid.  

3. Plot

This story is being told from many years after the event. As Montressor tells it, it is carnival season and Montressor's friend Fortunato has done something very offensive against him, and he needs revenge for what has been done. To do this, Montressor puts on a costume of all black, and goes through the carnival to find Fortunato, knowing he is a wine connoisseur, and claims to have a wine that is similar to Amontillado. The rising action is built through many minor conflicts including Montressor offering to ask another friend to taste the wine, offering many times to have Fortunato go back and escape. One pretty important moment in the rising climax is when Fortunato states that he will, "not die of a cough," and Montressor replies saying that it is "true," because we can assume that he is going to kill him. At last they arrive into a little room, and Montressor points out a hole where the bricks have been taken out of the wall and tells Fortunato that is where the wine is. The climax begins here as Montressor locks Fortunato up in that spot so he cannot escape and begins to build the wall so that he will never be able to escape. The falling action is shown through Montressor building up the wall, brick by brick, just imagining the absolute torture that Fortunato will go through as he dies down there. The resolution of this story comes as Montressor puts in the last brick of the wall, and then leaves the catacombs, with Fortunato still behind that wall, never to be disturbed.   

4. Point of View

The point of view of this story is first person, as Montressor is recalling the events from his own memory. We can see this when Montressor says things such as "I grew impatient," or "I called aloud."

5. Characterization

Montressor's character is a round character, he is very realistic, he has good traits such as when he offers escapes for Fortunato to leave, but he also has bad traits as letting the revenge take over his life and allow him to kill his friend. He is also dynamic, he begins very serious and set on killing his friend, but in the end he states that his, "heart grew sick," after he had put that last brick in the wall, possibly a feeling of regret that he had done this to a friend. I believe that this characterization is direct, he clearly says that he wants revenge, that he will kill Fortunato, and that he did have some regret after the incident, there is not much left to the reader, as it is from Montressor's perspective it very easy to see exactly what his character is. 

6. Irony

There are several incidences of irony within this story. The first place we can see this is within Fortunato's name, as his name is supposed to mean Fortune, and through verbal irony we can clearly see that he is very unfortunate. An example of dramatic irony would be Montressor offering to have Luchresi to taste the wine instead, knowing that Fortunato will be even more intrigued and forced to need to taste the Amontillado. Several other examples of dramatic irony would be when Montressor offers for Fortunato to go back up and back out instead of going to the wine, as the reader knows he is walking to his death. 

7. Symbol

The major symbol of this story would be the cask of Amontillado. It represents blood and the greed that it brings. The reason that this is the symbol, is that it is frequently mentioned throughout the story, it is the goal of Fortunato to find. The color of the red wine is a foreshadowing of the death that will come at the very end of the story. We can see the symbol used when Montressor says that, "in the matter of old wines he (Fortunato) is sincere." Another way the want for this wine is shows is when Fortunato states that his, "cold is merely nothing. Amontillado!" which shows how badly that he wants to taste that wine regardless of the cost. The greed that comes with this wine and the wealth it takes to own it can also cause tension. The cask was the luring factor that just encouraged Montressor to let the revenge blind him and take over his being, and walk Fortunato to his death. I believe that Poe chose this symbol for the story because it can be taken and used to relate to so many different themes throughout the story. However, it does very clearly represent that big overlapping idea of revenge and the sort of blinding that causes, and that relationship to alcohol and how that too blinds judgement. 

8. Overall Analysis

I really liked this story, along with the many other stories that Poe was written. I believe that everyone would like this story, it is very intriguing and suspenseful. The irony that takes place through the story keeps you on your toes, as you imagine the turnout of the story, and how each event ultimately leads to Fortunato's death. However, I do not think this is a childrens story, I think that kids high school aged and up should be reading this story, it is a little too mature for younger readers. I think anyone that struggles with holding grudges, taking revenge, or even just really likes great literature should read this! Poe is a classic writer so all of his stories should be shared through all time and to all people. However, I think that maybe people who do struggle with holding grudges could see how insane it really is when looking at it from that perspective, and how it effects not only the person they are getting revenge on, but the mentality of the person committing that revenge as well. I do believe the author did a great job. There is very specific attention to detail that was taken, through both of the language and character development. There was also a lot put into the plot to develop the foreshadowing and tension that was created through the rising action and during the climax. I would definitely recommend this story for anyone looking for a story to analyze, or even anyone wanting to just read a story that is really interesting and suspenseful. 

Well that's a wrap for this blog! I hope you found this analysis of The Cask of Amontillado to be interesting and informative, and I will see you back here next time, goodbye! 

Product Reviews

Well hello there!

How convenient you came to visit today! This blog is reviewing a few products that I happen to love and use on a daily basis, so relax, grab a cup of tea, put your feet up and enjoy a little you time today! 

Makeup: 

They’re Real! by Benefit Cosmetics is a mascara that I use on a daily basis. I personally love this mascara, it really covers my eyelashes well without clumping them together and making it look cakey and too fake. This mascara also has a great, lasting wear to it, it does not leave my eyes all day and it is waterproof, so unless I remove it my makeup wipes then it will stay on. The packaging for this product is also very sleek and makes me feel sort of professional, as it has a sleek silver casing and dramatic black and orange lettering.

 Another plus is the applicator, this applicator is a plastic applicator, but Benefit has customized this applicator to have bristles completely surrounding the brush, and it helps to apply the product evenly and cleanly. 

This mascara also comes in three colors, black, brown and blue! However, as there is with every product, there are some negatives. When you first will buy this mascara, it needs to air out to work effectively, using it right away will not give you the wanted results, what I personally do to combat this, is blow on the brush with the mascara before putting it on my lashes, this dries it out a little bit and makes it less clumpy and gross. This mascara may irritate the eyes too if worn for too long, this is common with every mascara, but I find that if I wear this mascara from very early in the morning until 1 am when I usually get to sleep, it will be stinging and irritating my eyes. Another issue that I have found is that the brush applicator handle is quite long and may grab excess product on it, so there needs to be a lot of caution taken when applying in order to not be covered with black mascara spots by the end of a makeup routine (believe me it happens). This mascara can be great for anyone who wants a mascara that is lengthening and volume creating with a great color.

 It both brightens and enlarges the eyes to make them more prominent and a focal point on the face. However, I would not recommend this product to anyone who need the mascara to work right away, it does need to air out, and it could also be a harsh product for people with sensitive eyes or sensitive skin to use, as it is hard to get off and can be irritating. This is the only mascara I have used for a while now and I love this product, I would recommend this to anyone looking for some variety in their makeup routine, and for someone looking to venture out and try something new.



Clothes:

The next product on my list to be reviewed is American Eagles Jeggings. For those of you that don't know, jeggings are jeans that fit more like a legging. These are the only jeans that I wear every day, they give me the fit I desire and are extremely comfy to wear all day. These jeans come in many styles, materials and colors! American Eagle offers Sateen jeans, knit, velvet and denim jeggings through their website.

American Eagle also offers their jeans in a wide variety of sizes and lengths to fit people of all shapes. Another great thing about these jeans is they actually have a decent amount of pocket space for women’s jeans, usually women’s clothing does a terrible job at having pockets pig enough to put anything in, but I can actually fit my phone in my back pocket of these jeans comfortably. 

Some negatives about these jeans are that they are pretty expensive, they are usually priced around 50 dollars without tax, so they are definitely an investment and I would suggest waiting to get them on a sale. If you get dark colored jeans, the colors can stain your skin temporarily, it does come off but you will be blue for a while. If you don’t like skinny jeans, these would also not be very good for you as they are a tight fit, but if that’s what you’re looking for then these are great! These jeans are great for anyone who wants to wear female jeans, these are stylish and comfortable jeans in many colors and styles to attempt to please everyone. 

These also would not be great for anyone on a tight budget, these jeans are pretty expensive however I believe the quality of these jeggings is worth it. I would highly recommend these jeans to everyone looking for high quality, comfy, great jeggings that can be paired for an everyday look or a more professional casual Friday look at work.  

Pamper:

My last product that I am reviewing today is from the company LUSH, and it is their shower gel Snow Fairy. This soap is AMAZING! I personally am obsessed and get it every year when it comes out in the seasonal collection. The company LUSH uses all natural ingredients in all of their products and are completely cruelty free. 

This soap smells like bubblegum, and it will keep the smell soaked into your skin for a while after you use it. Another great aspect of this soap is that it is extremely moisturizing, my skin has never reacted better to a soap than to LUSH’s shower gels. If you like sparkles, this soap would be great for you too, because along with the candy scented soap it also has sparkles in the mixture! Cons to this product would be the smell, my friend has asthma and with LUSH’s products, they are too strong for her and she reacts badly and cannot breathe. Another thing about this shower gel would be that the texture is a bit watery and liquidy, however all of their shower gels are this way and I believe it is because they do use all natural ingredients so the texture is bound to be different. A frequent downfall of this product that I have found is that it is hard to find, there are not many LUSH stores, and with this product being only for the Christmas Holiday season, they are often out of this soap by the time I can actually get to a store.  A plus to this product is that you will smell like bubble gum and sparkle, and I don’t know who wouldn’t want that! However, I would not suggest this soap to people who are allergic to the ingredients, or have a very sensitive sense of smell. Or if you don’t like to smell and sparkle like a fairy princess this to probably wouldn’t be your cup of tea. However, if you do I would highly recommend trying this product out and you’ll feel like every shower is a pamper session. 

It has come to that time again where it is the end of the blog! I hope that you found these reviews useful and take them into consideration! If any of these products or companies sound like something you would like to give a shot, the websites will be listed below! Have a great life and until next time, goodbye! 

Benefit Cosmetics

American Eagle 

LUSH

Influential People

Welcome back to my blog once again!

 Today I will be talking about some people that are really important to not only me, but to a lot of other people as well in the world. I will be talking about someone who has personally impacted me, someone who has not only influenced me but a lot of others as well, and someone who as had a large influence in the field of education! So now, without further adieu, enjoy reading about some of the "greats" who have been influential to my life!

1. My Mom

               I know it may sound a bit cheesy, however my mom has been a huge influence on my life. She has taught me almost everything I know, from how to walk, talk and eat, to how I should hold myself and treat others every day. In middle school and high school I had joined band because of how fun my mom had told me it was and all of her amazing experiences she had through band. She had taught me from a pretty early age to play the flute, so I too followed in her footsteps for that. It was really helpful having her around with the musical experience, because she could support me when it came to auditions or tryouts of any kind, and because she knew what she was doing, she could help me whenever I needed it. She has also influenced me in what career path I am choosing, my mom was a teacher, and now I am following right behind her for the next generation. I think seeing how she treated me as a kid and how much joy she has around other children really has inspired me to do the same and help give kids the foundation for their education with a warm smile and caring support. Growing up with my mom being able to teach me and support me the way she has, has really bettered me as a person as well.  She has also shown me the type of parent I would like to be someday in the future. She really does uplift my brother and I and does anything she can to help us out and encourage us to go above and beyond what we think we can achieve. She does hold standards, but with the respect that we have built for one another, I feel as though I want to impress my mom to not let her down, but not having to do things just because the rules are that way. My mom has influenced my life in many amazing ways, I am very lucky that I am her daughter and am able to have her as not only a mother, but as a best friend too.

2. Ellen DeGeneres 

               Ellen DeGeneres is a daily talk show host and an avid supporter for the LGBT community. Although I do not identify with any of these labels, I am a very avid supporter as both of my uncles are gay. Since Ellen herself is a lesbian, it is very easy for her to relate to the struggles of those who do identify with those labels, and their constant struggle for equality in society. When Ellen first came out to her fans, she had a massive amount of declining views, and it wasn’t until the 2000's when her talk show began that she began to regain popularity and be openly accepted. Being so out in the open with her love life on television has really brought a change to society. People have become more accepting because she is so welcoming and caring to everyone and people start to break the barriers down, reserve judgement, and watch Ellen for her hilarious comedy sketches and Haunted House clips with her producer Andy, not avoid her show just because she is a Lesbian. Not only is she an avid supporter of the LGBT group, but she also donates so much money to people in need including groups such as UNICEF, the ALS Association and supporters for Breast Cancer Awareness. Often times Ellen will receive mail or letters from people who know someone in need and Ellen will bring them on her show and reach out to other companies and help to support them by giving them a new car to get to work or drive their kids to school, or even money for groceries to help them out. Ellen brings joy to many people across the nation through her funny games and monologues, as well as her touching stories and showing how she helps those in need. Ellen is a figure that I would call my role model because she does uplift so many people and truly takes her fame to a new level because she does not use it for purely fame, but uses it for good and to help those less fortunate in society have a little more joy and take a break to dance once in a while. 

3. Bill Gates

               Bill Gates is an extremely influential person in the education system, however it may not be the best sorts of influence that we need. Gates does claim that we need to amp up the education system and become more competitive with the rest of the world; he also says that we need to individualize our teaching more than it currently is to get more one on one time with the students and engage them more fully in the process. However, Bill Gates has been a supporter and key implementer of the Common Core system, which does nothing of the sort. If anything, the Common Core system is dumbing down education as a whole making the material easier for students and less about them challenging themselves and pushing to solve problems and make difficult connections. He has also stated that students should be learning at their own pace based on the mastery of the subject, rather than “hours spent in a classroom,” so he is supporting a more online based system of learning instead of simply face to face. He claims that since teens are on the internet already, he believes that they should just learn on the internet while they’re at it. However I do believe this could be a great concept to explore, I do not think we are ready for that switch just yet, students would get extremely distracted from social media and everything else on the internet, and not be able to focus as well as they would when sitting in a classroom. Although if we are truly headed more towards total inclusion in general education classrooms, this common core and online learning system may be very beneficial to the schools system. It may even out the playing field for those with disabilities, as well as giving able bodied students the space to expand at their own pace as Gates claims it would work. Although Bill Gates has influenced a large portion of the sort of education material we see today, it may not be exactly what we need in order to gain our stance back in the world, and with a huge figure pushing for these things it is a little terrifying.

Those are three of the most influential people in my life with a little more than you probably asked for. I hope you found this interesting and I will see you back here next time! Goodbye!