The Cask of Amontillado

The Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allan Poe is a classic horror story written by one of the best authors of all time. Poe s definition of horror seems to be a little different than what most people would think of a horror story today. The reader gets a feeling of horror, but not as a result of guts and gore as in most horror stories. This story s theme is possibly that no one can find refuge from a deranged mind, or that terrible crimes can be committed when an imaginary offense can turn into a deep hatred. The Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allan Poe uses a horrid setting, ghastly imagery, and offensive irony to support the theme.

The setting adds to the horror of the story. He sets most of the story in a dark, damp series of winding tunnels piled with bones: We had passed through long halls of piled skeletons (Poe 78). As Montresor leads Fortunato through the vaults, we feel as if we are being led through the crazed corridors of Montresor s sick mind. The setting gives the reader the feeling of a dark, damp, frightening tunnel. Also all the events in the story take place during a carnival with loud noises and lots of people having fun, one evening during the supreme madness of the carnival season. This helps Montresor because nobody notices him taking Fortunato away. This all adds to the horror of the story and helps make it into one of the classics.

Along with Poe s use of the setting to add to the horror, his style is what makes this a masterpiece of horror. He uses imagery to help the reader experience the catacombs. We see the vaults encrusted with nitre (Poe 76), the mask of black silk (76-77), and the flambeaux rather to glow than flame (78). These images all help give the reader the feeling of what it is like in the vaults. Poe also has several images of revenge. Fortunato s coughing while being led through the catacombs is one example of an image of revenge. The reader knows from the beginning, but when he ventured upon insult I vowed revenge , that Montresor wants revenge agaisnt Fortunato. All the imagery that Poe uses gives the reader a picture in their mind of where the characters are in the story and what is going on. The images add to the feeling of horror in the story. As well as imagery, Poe uses irony throughtout the story to add to the theme. There is a situational irony in the fact that the crime takes place during a celebration and that Fortunato is dressed like a jester. What happens in the story is just the opposite of what the reader expects. Just about everything Montresor says is verbal irony. He says just the opposite of what the reader would expect. He keeps inquiring about Fortunato s health and says he will not die of a cold. The cough is a mere nothing; it will not kill me. I shall not die of a cough (Poe 77). It is also ironic that Fortunato s name means good luck, but his luck is not so good when he is led down into his resting place. Possibly the greatest use of irony though, is when Montresor says he is a member of the masons: A mason (78). Fortunato thinks he means he is a fellow member of a society when

what he really means is that he is a bricklayer about to brick him in for all of eternity. This shows that Montresor got the revenge he vowed to get.

Through the use of setting, imagery, and irony Poe adds to the theme of The Cask of Amontillado. A person with a deranged mind could do anything. No one is immune to terrible crimes. Also Poe is saying that there have always been great crimes that have gone unsolved. Who knows how many undiscovered remains there are in the walls of medieval buildings.