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Cask Of Amontillado Term Paper

¶ … Cask of Amontillado" Edgar Allen Poe uses a number of elements to increase the shock value of the murder perpetrated by Montresor. The victim is Fortunato, whom Montresor attempts until the very end to convince of nothing but his own friendship and goodwill. There are several elements of setting and situation that aid Montresor in his intention to murder Fortunato. The shock value of this event is further enhanced by the motive, which appears petty at best. Perhaps it says something of Montresor's nature that he is motivated by nothing better than an unspecified insult to murder a man by enclosing him alive behind a stone wall. Throughout the story Poe shows how the setting, situation, and Fortunato's own flawed nature contribute to his murder. The most devious method that Montresor uses to lure Fortunato to his eventual death is the pretense of his continued friendship. Fortunato's own trusting nature is a further catalyst for the success...

Poe shoes that Montresor, despite his outrage and his desire for revenge, continues to show friendship towards Fortunato. The former succeeds well in this because of his own mental position: "I continued ... To smile in his face, and he did not perceive that my to smile now was at the thought of his immolation." This pretense as well as Fortunato's trusting nature then contribute to the ease with which Montresor lures him to the night of his death.
Several elements of situation furthermore aids Montresor in his aim on the particular night the he chooses for Fortunato's murder. The carnival is the most important element that gives rise to the events that follow. Because of this, Fortunato is perhaps more inebriated than would otherwise have been the case. Furthermore, Montresor has ensured the absence of his servants during this particular night. This is combined with both Fortunato's relative innocence and his pride in his…

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references to the latter's expertise in matters of culture and art, and by offering him more wine. When they reach their destination, both Fortunato and the reader find that the "pipe" of Amontillado was in fact to be Fortunato's final resting-place -- the cask. The depth of Montresor's cruelty and deception then shows itself in the last lines of the story, where he echoes with relish Fortunato's final cries of despair.

The title of Poe's story then reflects Montresor's true intentions, even as the speaker himself does, from the beginning. His actions throughout the story shows him to be a cruel and perhaps even petty man, murdering a so-called friend for a reason no better than an insult. This is also indicative of Montresor's value system and state of mind, which is as dark as the catacombs and the niche in which he eventually buries Fortunato alive. Poe thus succeeds in shocking his readers through his use of the dark and foreboding setting, which is then echoed in the mind and actions of the narrator.
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