Nicholas Lumpkin ENC 1102 Research Paper: The Cask of Amontillado

A story of hate, murder and revenge. However The Cask of Amontillado, goes much deeper than the words that it is written with. Through the use of particular symbols, physical or not, Edgar Allan Poe portrays a story in which the characters intwine with the setting and objects in a way to subtlety give the reader a untold verbal story. Poes mind shaped by his environment shown through his writing. His use of symbols gives an in-depth view of the characters emotions in a way that places the reader in the shoes of Fortunato and Montresor. Poe is known for giving a horror undertone to his stories or poems in a sense that its not direct, but eased on the audience. Thus giving us The Cask of Amontillado, which would have to be one of the best works by Poe through showing the on point writing style of the author and tone. In the story it is assumed that Fortunato and Montresor were once friends, however Montresor has some type of grudge against Fortunato to where he plans Fortunatos death. The use of symbolism Poe writes in a way of two extremes, life and death. The life of a festival to the extreme of death on Montresors cellar. The cynical undertone Montresor gives just slightly enough to where Fortunato, though drunk, doesn't quite catch. Poes use of objects, for example the amontillado in itself, is symbol is for fortune and wealth. Montresor knows that Fortunato has almost an addiction to wine and that the offer of Amontillado is irresistible to Fortunato which is his trap for him. While they search for the Amontillado in Montresors cellar, Poe writes how they view the skulls of Montresors ancestors. The foreshadowing of death is all around they but Fortunatos ignorance blinds him from Montresors plans.

Nicholas Lumpkin ENC 1102 Symbols are scattered throughout the story, for example Fortunatos name in itself. Fortunato literally stands for fortuna in Latin (which is where the story is taken place), deriving from the Latin word fortunatus. Though Poe didn't create the name in the original format, Fortunato stands for fortune or luck. Giving him an ironic name but also an symbolic name. Reason being that Fortunato ends up being not so lucky and being murdered in the worst way possible in Montresors point of view. Poe also gives this symbolic meaning to Montresors name as well. There was an actual Count of Montresor who tried to assassinate Cardinal Richelieu, tying the name together with luck and murder with factual origin. Another example of symbolic meanings comes from a place in the story when Montresor brings his unknowingly victim, Fortunato, to his ancestors catacombs. Implying that Fortunato didn't just insult and cause mental injury to Montresor but that Fortunato also brings that to his ancestors. This is the point in the story where Poe gives his characteristic undertone of horror for the reader but not the actual characters themselves. He describes them walking through the bones of Montresors dead ancestors while also describing the scene to paint the picture in the heads of the reader, dark, horrifying, death ridden. However the characters, besides Montresor, including the actual fair party goers are oblivious to the fact that murder is about to take place. To Montresor this is the perfect revenge, for example when Fortunato yells pitifully, For the love of god, Montresor!. Then while almost a sigh of relief Montresor exclaims Yes, for the love of God. For Montresor, Fortunato got what was coming his way and that he got the punishment he deserved.

Nicholas Lumpkin ENC 1102