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Think Before You Speak
In the story “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe. The narrator whose
name is Montresor starts by telling the reader about Fortunado a man who has insulted
him therefore now he seeks revenge. In the end Montresor does get the revenge he
wanted but tells us that this happen 50 years prior to him telling us the story. (Poe 714-
719). Fortunado knows his wine and Montresor uses this weakness in favor of his
revenge. Throughout the story Fortunado had no idea what Montresor planned until he
finds himself trapped and begging Montresor not to go on with his revenge. Fortunado is
a victim of Montresor but also a victim of himself as his pride, drunkenness and insults
all take part into his death. Edgar Allan Poe lets the readers wonder as to what was the
insult was that led to Montresor to commit such horrifying event. He also lets readers
imagine the horrific act and leaves the reader thinking as to why Montresor would wait
50 years to tell this story. (Poe 714-719).
Article Analysis
In the article “Confession Within a Confession: Poe’s Brave New World in ‘The
Cask of Amontillado,’ ” by Rehana Whatley, originally published in the 2012 in the
Journal of Global Intelligence & Policy, the author claims that Fortunado and Montresor
are friends. “Poe’s criticism fails to emphasize that Fortunato and Montresor are friends.
Fortunato follows Montresor trustingly into the vaults,” (Whatley 56). The author claims
that Fortunado and Montresor are friends because Fortunato trusted Montresor enough to
go with him and test the Amontillado. “The time is perfect for Montresor’s plan to punish
his friend Fortunato, “Rich by Chance”, an upstart, who brags, boasts, flaunts and bullies
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Montresor in ignorance and arrogance,” (Whatley 56). Whatley claims they are friends
but because of Fortunato’s bullying among other things Montresor punishes him. “Under
the cover of costumes, masks, capes, and disguises, Montresor kills his friend in cold
blood,” (Whatley 56).
Next, the author claims that Fortunato looks like a joke but Montresor is actually
the one playing a deadly joke on him. “Fortunato’s carnival identity, a motley clown is a
brilliant stroke of luck. Montresor plans and executes a macabre plot, a deadly joke by
leading Fortunato to think that he is going into the vault to test Amontillado,” (Whatley
56). The author claims Fortunato thinks Montresor is playing a joke when he shackles
him but Montresor knows it’s not. “Even when Fortunato’s drinking wears off, he
