Cask of Amontillado the Theme

¶ … Cask of Amontillado The theme of the story was all about the sinister revenge of Montresor that took place one evening of carnival season. Upon reading the story, the reader can think of nothing but the fuming emotion that haunts Montresor that caused him to pursuit the sad fate of Fortunato. The tale of the story was told by the sinister Montresor, whose true characteristic was already revealed even at the first part of the story.

At first, the story may seem to tell about a man of honor who very well cares for his dignity. However, with all the anger that was told, the destructive plan to Fortunato, and the description of how Montresor is going to get revenge, a frightening Montresor was depicted; a style that can immediately arouse a reader's curiosity despite that he is only at the beginning of the story.

After revealing the sentiments of Montresor, all the actions started taking place; a very good writing style that clears the rationales of the things that will happen. Despite of this though, the element of suspense is not lost in the story because within the succeeding parts after describing Montresor's emotions, deceptions and disguises in Montresor's actions to Fortunato shall develop; another style that can increase suspense to a reader. Edgar Allan Poe made use of an effective setting of the story where Montresor made his plans happen.

It was a carnival season feasting, a time and place of merriment that will soon be haunted by a horrifying event that is unknown to everyone. The action started to happen when Montresor and Fortunato met in the merriment. Fortunato, who is already drunk, as shown by the excessive warmth that he gave to Montresor, has not even a single idea of what is bound to happen to him.

Montresor showed him nothing but friendliness and gladness of seeing him at the carnival, a deceiving act to help him attract and bring Fortunato at the doomed place of his death. Montresor even invited Fortunato to his palazzo.

The way that Montresor and Fortunato had their conversation while Montresor is continuing on his plan for him, somehow shown an arrogant Fortunato when Luchresi was insulted as an "ignoramus" for not knowing which is Sherry and which is Amontillado, as well as when he hesitated in believing that Montresor was a mason. Somehow, this made the story illustrate Fortunato's character and somehow has given me some thoughts on Fortunato's character, reasoning why Montresor bears bitterness to Fortunato.

The next scene in the story is the place where the crime will happen, at the catacombs of the Montresors, a place underneath the Montresor palazzo and where a lot of deceptions and verbal ironies were suggested. This includes the concern to Fortunato's health that Montresor shown behind the fact that he means harm to Fortunato.

Another irony during the nearing death of Fortunato was the fact that he was wearing a funny costume of a court jester and yet he was unsuspecting that Montresor is already making a "fool" out of him. Moreover, the fact that Fortunato was the one who unknowingly insisted to go to the place of his death is a painful and yet humorous irony of the story. Overall, The Cask of Amontillado is a blend of humorous and creepy tale. It can effectively arouse a reader's emotion whether.