Edgar Allan Poe's the Cask of Amontillado, is a short story of terror, revenge and secret murder starring

two main characters Montresor and Fortunato. Montresor is the narrator and the murderer. Fortunato
is a wine connoisseur and the victim. He was the enemy of Montresor but Fortunato seems to be
unaware that he is Montresor’s enemy. He also didn’t know Montresor’s ulterior motives at the
beginning. The story begins with the narrator, Montresor, explaining that a man called Fortunato has
insulted him a thousand times over. His insult has provoked his vow to revenge. He continues to assure
us that he has given Fortunato no idea to the fact that he is plotting to kill him and he plans to use
Fortunato’s knowledge of wine to lure him to his death.

In the rising action Montresor knows Fortunato a lot and he recounts how he runs into Fortunato on the
streets during Carnival season. Montressor continues to narrate his encounter with Fortunato at a
carnival. He explained that Fortunato is dressed in motley, the traditional costume of a fool or jester
with a striped outfit and a jester hat and bells while he has been drinking. Fortunato is very drunk and he
greets Montresor with great warmth. Very quickly, Montresor entices Fortunato to come to his home to
see the pipe of Amontillado that he has acquired. A pipe is a word for a barrel. He wants Fortunato to
taste test it and want to bring it to their friend, Luchesi for him to give it a taste test. He knows that
Fortunato will be Jealous in asking Luchesi instead of asking him to have a taste because he thinks of
himself that he is the best wine connoisseur. Fortunato insisted that he should be the one to taste test
it. Montresor tells us that his servants are away from the house for the night so they have the house to
themselves. Montresor’s home is large and according to the details we can assume it's been in the
family for quite some time. when they arrive, they go into the catacombs. The catacombs are the
underground passages that are often places where the dead are buried. In this case, these are the
catacombs of the Montresor family. Fortunato is very drunk and he is not completely aware to what is
taking place around him. He begins coughing. Montresor asking him to come back some other time once
his feeling well. He said that he doesn’t need to do this. He tried to act as if he is caring about him. He
did this because he is quite sure about Fortunato’s ego. Fortunato insists to continue. Montresor claims
that he bought a large barrel of Amontillado and doubts whether or not it is legitimate. At this point,
Fortunato is getting a bit goofy. Jingling with all of his movements and accuses Montresor of not being a
mason. Montresor says he most certainly is a mason and shows him a trowel, which is like a small
flattened shovel. When they reach the most remote area of the catacombs, they find a smaller crypt
that is lined with human bones. From there they see a recessed area about four feet deep, three feet
wide and seven feet high. Fortunato continues into this crypt with Montresor’s urging him into the
smaller space. Fortunato is so drunk that he is confused as Montresor chains him to the to the area.
Fortunato is still asking for the Amontillado while Montresor brings in stone and mortar. Once
Montresor starts building a wall at the entrance of the small area, Fortunato sobers up quickly.
Montresor describes the sounds he hears of the jingling of Fortunato’s belt and the clinking of the chains

In the climax of the story, the wall is about halfway up, Fortunato starts screaming and Montresor
mocks him. Fortunato calms and says a very good joke indeed, knowing that he didn’t do anything to
him. Probably with his last bit of hope, Montresor humors him for a moment but soon as Fortunato
realizes this is not a game, he screams and begs for the love of God Montresor to release him.
Montresor repeats his words and scream as well like saying that he can do that too. Then there is
silence. Montresor ignores the scream of Fortunato for mercy because no one can hear them.
In the falling action, Montresor who wants Fortunato to continue to beg becomes impatient and calls
out to Fortunato trying to provoke him. He does not respond in hopes of getting Fortunato to respond in
some way. Fortunato stops screaming, and Montresor throws a torch into the open area left. He hears
the tinkling of bells on his costume. He says that his heart grew sick but only on the account of the
dampness of the catacombs and then he finishes building the wall, so no one finds him.

In the story's conclusion is that Fortunato is dead, enclosed in the crypt and the murder was not
discovered. Montresor’s revenge seems to be a complete success because Montresor has destroyed his
enemy. These events actually happened 50 years ago he concludes his reminiscence with rest in peace.