Comparative

The Plot of Amontillado In “The Cask of Amontillado”, Edgar Allan Poe builds a dark and eerie plot. Using strong diction and clear imagery, Poe develops a story of vengeance and rivalry. Like any plot, or the events of a story, Poe’s begins with an initial situation. In this particular story the initial situation is an insult followed by a vow for revenge. Fortunato and Montressor, the antagonist and protagonist, have known each other for quite some time and have built up somewhat of a rivalry. Although Fortunato had “wounded” Montressor thousands of times, Montressor never said or acted upon them. One day however Fortunato takes it too far and insults Montressor, causing him to vow revenge on his foe. By supplying the reader with the feelings between the two characters, Poe creates the tension and character development early, in beginning of the story, as well as help set the stage for the conflict. Secondly, the conflict arises. In able to get back or have his revenge for the insult Fortunato delivered, Montressor would have to get away with it. Montressor knows that the punishment has to be permanent and nothing is more permanent than death. Also, Montressor wants Fortunato to know that it was coming from him. There is also the conflict of if Fortunato was able to get Montressor back, then Montressor would have lost. The complication with inside the story is little to none. In order for his plan to work Montressor had no problem setting up and acting out his plan. The mere”name-drop” of Luchesi and Amontillado was enough to lure Fortunato into Montressor’s wine cellar. At one point Fortunato even insists on continuing through the catacombs, a graveyard past the cellar, despite Montressor’s false concerns for his health. Due to his state of drunkenness or ignorance, Fortunato never looks or turns back until it is too late. This leaves very little complication for Montressor or his plans of revenge. The story’s climax occurs when Montressor and Fortunato reach the foulest, darkest part of the catacombs. Once again Montressor mentions Luchesi and Fortunato calls Luchesi an “ignoramus”. At this point Fortunato realizes he is trapped in a “conveniently man-sized space” and is chained in an upright casket. Suddenly despair and fear kick in and lead into the suspense. The suspense is built entirely by Montressor. Montressor almost literally builds a wall of suspense “brick by brick...” for Fortunato as he waits to see if this is just a joke or his demise. Due to the setting of the story, it is during carnival and could possibly merit a sick joke such as this. However, the suspense dissolves when the denouncement occurs. The final brick is placed and Montressor feels no remorse. Fortunato breaks down and cries for help but receives no mercy or pity from Montressor. Despite hearing the bells of Fortunato’s hat, Montressor feels no remorse and takes great pride in knowing that when the rest of the air is used up in the brick casket that Fortunato will be dead. The conclusion occurs long after the murder takes place. Looking back on the events described in the story as if they happened quite some time ago. We are told in the second to last line of the story that the murder occurs fifty years ago. It can then be determined that Montressor is at least eighty or more years of age and has gotten away with the murder so far. Mostly the conclusion tells the reader that Montressor’s vengeance was a success and he wants everyone to know that he got away with it. From beginning to end the plot of “A Cask of Amontillado” is riveting and suspenseful. The initial situation being an insult sets a negative and dark tone alike all of Poe’s stories. Throughout the development of plot there is strong diction and imagery supporting every turn of the story. Also the strong influence of irony helps describe the conflict and climax. For example, this verbal irony shows in the quote “You will be ill and I cannot be responsible." This refers to Montressor’s fake concern for Fortunato’s health directly relating to the conflict of it being so easy to trick Fortunato. Also the apparent glee and happiness in Montressor’s final words to the reader which echo the Latin of the requiem mass. May he rest in peace. One can only imagine the painfully slow death by thirst and starvation, Fortunato did not die in peace, and the sorrowful emotions of the requiem mass are absent. Montresor has punished with impunity bringing a whole new meaning to his family crest.