Use of the Single Effect in A Cask of Amontillado Essay

Use of the Single Effect in A Cask of Amontilladonbsp; Edgar Allan Poes A Cask of Amontillado is perhaps the most famous tale of terror ever written. Montresor, the storys narrator, leads the reader through his revenge on Fortunato. Montresor entices Fortunato into the dark recesses of the family catacombs with the promise of a very fine wine. At the climax of the story, Montresor shackles Fortunato to a wall and seals him away forever behind brick and mortar. In all of Poes short stories he attempts to convey a certain unique or single effect. A Cask of Amontillado expresses its dark view of human intention by using elements of irony, foreshadowing, and metaphor. The first person point of view also lends itself to an†¦show more content†¦Whether Montresor really wants to abort his murderous plan or is just using reverse psychology to increase Fortunatos resolve is open to debate. However, either way it is ironic that Fortunato is so eager to reach his untimely ending. These ironies get the reader thinking that things are not as they outwardly appear. Behind Montresors sociable facade lies a vengeful murderer. Poe builds suspense and expectation in A Cask of Amontillado by using a few instances of foreshadowing. When Montresor warns Fortunato of the ill effects of the damp, Fortunato says, I shall not die of a cough. Montresor responds, Tue--true. One can almost see Montresors eyebrows rise as he replies, while at the same time pondering his companions demise. Another prophetic moment is when the two discuss Montresors family motto: Nemo me impune lacessit (no one wounds me with impunity). The reader is not specifically told what Fortunato did to incite Montresor, but it involved injuries and insult. A final bit of foreshadowing occurs when Fortunato questions Montresors membership in the masons. Montresor proves himself by showing off his trowel. Fortunato takes it as a joke, since he was referring to the fraternal organization and not the profession. The scene serves to offer the reader a clue as to Montresors plan for his unfortunate neighbour. The major theme in A Cask of Amontillado is the darkness that lies behind the friendly facade of some men. This idea isShow MoreRelatedGothic Literature : The Dark Side Of Romanticism1518 Words   |  7 PagesThe theme of Gothic stories is either mysterious, horror, or even death. Nathaniel Hawthorne and Edgar Allan Poe are authors that demonstrate Gothic literature. Some of their work include, â€Å"The Cask of Amontillado† written by Edgar Allan Poe and â€Å"The Birthmark† by Nathaniel Hawthorne. The Cask of Amontillado tells how the narrator Montresor seeks revenge on his acquaintance, Fortunato. Montresor to desperate measures and did not catch. 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The skillful use of these devices are utilized by the author to create this horrific and suspenseful masterpiece. br brThe Cask of Amontillado is a horror short story, which revolves around the themes of revenge and pride. The plot involves two men: Montresor, the narrator, who is an Italian aristocrat seekingRead MoreThe Cask Of Amontillado By Edgar Allan Poe997 Words   |  4 PagesThe cask of Amontillado Edgar Allan Poe is an American author and a poet. He is a major figure in American and world literature, this is primarily based on his ingenious and profound short stories, poems, and critical theories, which established him as a highly influential rationale for the short form in both poetry and fiction. â€Å"The cask of Amontillado† is viewed by most people as one of the most perfect short stories in the world and although Poe uses symbolism to help his audience understand itRead MoreEdgar Allan Poe s Three Techniques For Dark Writing999 Words   |  4 Pagesmakes his poetry very strong, dark and suspenseful; to do this Poe uses imagery, mood and tone. These three techniques help create a feeling of horror. â€Å"The Cask of the Amontillado†, â€Å" The Raven†, and â€Å"The Tale Tell Heart† are the three stories that show these techniques clearly. Imagery is represented to help the atmosphere have horror and it helps the reader see what s going on in the story. In â€Å"The Cask of the Amontillado† when Fortunato was being tied up, Montresor sat in bones and watchedRead MoreEdgar Allan Poe s The Cask Of Amontillado2043 Words   |  9 PagesMy tentative thesis states that Edgar Allan Poe’s â€Å"The Cask of Amontillado† is the single most perfect short story through a number of masterful techniques in order to drive home the point that the whole story is a confession to his priest in his dying hour. In order to help prove this, I attempted to gather articles mentioning religious imagery within this piece as well as other Poe works and looked into biographical information so as to have a number of sources from which to choose. The first setRead MoreIrony And Imagery Of Edgar Allan Poe s The Cask Of Amontillado 1891 Words   |  8 PagesPoe’s â€Å"The Cask of Amontillado† Edgar Allan Poe is best known for dark short stories and poems. â€Å"The Cask of Amontillado† begins with Montresor, the narrator, vowing revenge on Fortunato for insulting him. Montresor crafts an intricate plan with two criteria: Montresor cannot get caught in his pursuit of revenge and Fortunato must understand why Montresor is seeking revenge upon him. One evening, Montresor tells Fortunato that he has a Spanish sherry and wonders if it is truly Amontillado, a rare and