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!
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!
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