• In this short story, Allen Poe used the fir

st person narrative to state the reason a

nd process for the killing, which makes t
he horrible effect of this story stronger.
At the same time, human mortality is sh
aken for Poe's deep exploration into the
sinful world in the bottom of human he
art and spirit.
Summary of the story

• “The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne

as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult
I vowed revenge.”
Fortunato ：
not be able to resist demonstrating his
discerning palate for wine
 Montresor reveals
brick and mortar that
was previously hidden
among the bones, and p
roceeds to wall up the
niche using his trowel
, entombing his “frie
nd” alive.
 In pace requiescat!
("May he rest in peace!")
Elements of Gothic literature

• An element of fear UNKNOWN, the feeling of DESPAIR

• Terror (the basic emotion of all human being)

• Death (produce the atmosphere of terror; shock the soul; cliffhang on

e's nerves)

• Ivory

• Super-natural phenomenon, violence, revenge......

Settings

• SPACE: old castle, catacombs, isolated house, walls

• COLOR: dark room, murky light, gloomy

• SOUND: quiet and mysterious

 Catacombs mean death
-- the inevitable consequence of Fortunato

• the white webwork which gleams from these cavern walls

• increases; hangs like moss upon the vaults

• impossible to reply for many minutes

• Oppressive, gloomy and mysterious atmosphere; dark subterranean va

ults and death- all these are common elements of Gothic fiction.
 The theme of revenge

• “The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could; but when h
e ventured upon insult, I vowed revenge”

• “I must not only punish, but punish with impunity. A wrong is unredressed
when retribution overtakes its redresser. It is equally unredressed when the
avenger fails to make himself felt as such to him who has done the wrong.”

• men's evil spirit and personality defect

Madness pleased at torturing others
• Montresor sits down on the bones, delighted and satisfied when Fortunato shake
s the chains, struggling to get out.

• “A succession of loud and shrill screams, bursting suddenly from the throat of the
chained form, seemed to thrust me violently back. For a brief moment I hesitated
—I trembled. Unsheathing my rapier, I began to grope with it about the recess: bu
t the thought of an instant reassured me. I placed my hand upon the solid fabric o
f the catacombs, and felt satisfied. I reapproached the wall. I replied to the yells of
him who clamored. I re-echoed—I aided—I surpassed them in volume and in stren
gth. I did this, and the clamorer grew still.”
The use of irony intensifies the ef
fect of horror
I said to him—“My dear Fortunato,
you are luckily met. How remarkably
well you are looking today!”

• to lure Fortunato to his vaults to carry out his plan of murder.

• Fortunato is not at all lucky.

Symbolism

• “cask” “caske
t”
• “Montresor” “monstrous”

• “Fortunato” “fortunate”
• The settings, the theme of revenge, the vivid portrait of
Montresor's madness, the careful use of irony and the u
se of symbol are the main characteristics of the story an
d are distinct traits of Gothic fiction, making The Cask of
Amontillado a perfect example of Gothic works.