The Cask of Amontillado By Edgar Allen Poe

Poe’s story takes place in the catacombs during Carnival, a celebration that still takes place in many countries. The day before Ash Wednesday is celebrated as a holiday with carnivals, masquerade balls, and parades of costumed merrymakers. During Carnival, people celebrate by disguising themselves as fools, wearing parti-striped dress or motley, and capes, known as roquelaires. Women would celebrate, wearing conical caps. Carnival is also called Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, because of the feasting that takes place the day before Ash Wednesday. Starting on Ash Wednesday, which is the beginning of Lent, some Christians fast and do penance for their sins.

The following clip shows the more modern Carnival celebration, Mardi Gras. Notice however, that many of the costumes have remained the same style for generations.

In general, masks have two important social functions: (1) they provide a disguise for the wearer and (2) they allow the wearer to assume the identity, at least temporarily, of some other person or being. An individual in clown makeup, for example, is allowed in most societies to behave in ways that would otherwise be deemed inappropriate or offensive. This is certainly entertaining to the viewers, but it also highlights and presumably conveys something about the boundaries of what is appropriate in that particular society. Traditionally, masks are often worn during funerals or the planting and nurturing of spring crops. Not unexpectedly, these are also times when some believe spirits are in closest contact with the people.

In religious rituals during these times, the person wearing the mask often becomes the spirit being represented, or at least serves as a medium through which the spirit is allowed to communicate with the people, as in many American Indian and African societies. Of course, masks can also serve as simple enhancements to story-telling, as a way for actors to "disappear" into the roles they are playing (Japanese Noh masks, for example). Yet even this use of masks can be more complicated than one might suppose: at one time, for instance, Korean masked dance troupes ritually burned their masks after they had been used, suggesting that an element of religious tradition had carried over to the stage.

This next clip is a scene from The Phantom of the Opera in which the opera house is hosting a masquerade. Synchronized dances and elaborate costumes were familiar sights at such parties.

Centuries ago, in Italy, the early Christians buried their dead in catacombs, which are long, winding underground tunnels. Later, wealthy families built private catacombs beneath their palazzos, or palace-like homes. These dark and cool chambers, or vaults, contained nitre, a crystallized salt growth. In order to find their way in their underground tunnels, the owners would light torches or flambeaux. Catacombs

These crypts were suitable not only for burial but also for storage of fine vintage wines such as Amontillado, DeGrave, and Medoc. A wine expert, or connoisseur, would store wine carefully in these underground vaults. Wine was stored in casks or puncheons, which held 72 to 100 gallons, or in pipes, which contained 126 gallons (also known as two hogsheads). Catacombs

Keep an eye and an ear out for Montressor’s revenge. How does he manipulate and toy with Fortunato? Why would they go deep into the catacombs where nothing but dusty bottles and ancient bones make their home? How does Poe create his chilling, menacing, bloodcurdling tale? As you experience the story…

The Cask of Amontillado By Edgar Allen Poe Go to the back and find a SpringBoard book. Open to page 104 and write your name and the date at the top.