The Cask of Amontillado

Published 1846 One theory for the inspiration for story was a feud Poe had with 2 other poets The story was somewhat controversial for focusing his story on a crime with no apparent motive, and a murderer with no apparent remorse Background The Cask of Amontillado

Behind the Story Poe had a real fear of being buried alive After reading Poe’s work, a Russian inventor created a device that allowed “deceased” to ring a bell so that live people above ground would know the buried person was not really dead Think about this as we read “Cask of Amontillado”

Overview The story is narrated by Montresor, who carries a grudge against Fortunato for an offense that is never explained Montresor leads a drunken Fortunato through a series of chambers beneath his palazzo

Although Fortunato has a horrible cough the promise of a taste of Amontillado spurs him deeper and deeper into the underground When the two men reach the last underground chamber, Montresor chains Fortunato to the wall, builds a new wall to seal him in, and leaves him to die

Literary Focus Themes and Conflicts Revenge Madness Deception Remorse vs. Lack of Remorse Pride Friendship Power and Respect Social Clases and Social Significance within Society

Literary Focus Symbols Montresor’s Coat of Arms and motto, Nemo me impune lacessit Irony The Usage of a Trowel A foot in a blue background crushing a snake whose fangs are embedded in the foot's heel “No one attacks me with impunity” Both the coat of arms and motto are representative of Montresor’s lust for revenge He will crush Fortunado for the “injuries” he has given Fortunado belongs to a secret society called the Freemasons Montresor says he is also a mason, but then produces a trowel used for regular masonery work Fortunado thinks this action is trivial, but the trowel ends up playing an integral part in his demise .

Literary Focus Point of View Told in the first person by Montresor By presenting the story in the first person, Poe puts the reader at the mercy of an unreliable narrator, a mad man, who decides what to tell and what to leave out.

Fortunato Montresor's sworn enemy, Fortunato displays no uneasiness in Montresor's company, and is unaware that his friend is plotting against him. Fortunato is a proud connoisseur of fine wine He is urged on by the chance of sampling some rare Amontillado

Luchesi Acquaintance of Montresor's and Fortunato's A rival wine expert of Fortunado’s Montresor keeps Fortunato on the trail of the Amontillado by threatening to allow Luchesi to sample it first

Montresor Holds a grudge against his friend Fortunato, who has committed several unnamed offenses against him Wealthy and lives in a palazzo Has planned murder of Fortunado Telling the story fifty years after it has taken place he reveals no regret for his actions