Essay About Montresors Mentality And Montresor Shows

Cask Of Amontillado
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The Perfect Killer
Edgar Allen Poes brings us a twisted tale of vengeance and horror in “The
Cask of Amontillado.” Poes character, Montresor, acts as our guide and
narrator through this story. He grabs a hold of the reader as he tells the
story from his own apathetic and deceptive mind to gain vengeance from the
weak and dismal Fortunato. Montresors mentality is disturbing as he uses his
clever, humor, ironic symbolism, and darkness to accomplish this.
At the beginning of the story, Montresor tells us that he has vowed vengeance
on Fortunato. Montresor also states “I must not only punish, but punish with
impunity. A wrong is underdressed when retribution overtakes its redresser. It
is equally underdressed when the avenger fails to make himself felt as such to
him who has done wrong.” (Poe 673). This means that not only will he get his
vengeance, but Fortunato will know that Montresor is his demise. Poe has not
only shown that Montresor is a killer, but a killer with a set of rules that
he will follow until Fortunatos death. I believe this is the most important
part of the story. It creates an interest, sets the plot, and provides an
insight into Montresors twisted mind.
Montresors reason for murdering Fortunato stems only from insults, and no way
is this justification to kill Fortunato. It is reason to note though that
Montresor apparently does not like Italians in the first place, “Few Italians
have the true virtuoso spirit. For the most part their enthusiasm is adopted
to suit the time and opportunity – to practice imposture upon the British and
Austrian millionaires. In painting and gemmary Fortunato, like his countrymen,
was a quake-” (Poe 674). Montresor feels that Fortunato is a fake just like
his countrymen. So quiet possibly Montresors validation for were a great and
numerous family.” (Poe 675). This could imply that Montresor is bitter of the
fact that his family no longer has the lustrous and honorable name it once
had, and this is his attack on the society he hates.
It is obvious that this is murder is premeditated. Montresor has sent
his staff home and told not to disturb the house. He has also waited until
Carnival to execute his plan, which brings up two points. The first being that
Montresor has waited until this time because the town is disordered and
Fortunato will be drunk. The second point is a deeper thought that was brought
up in which Carnival season is a time when rules are suspended and abnormality
is accepted. This is when you can put on a mask; act without regret or
boundaries, then take off the mask and continue on with normal life. I believe
this shows an admirable quality of patience and determination in Montresor
since he has waited all this time to execute his plan.
Once Montresor has Fortunato in his home, he begins to express his
dark and deceiving humor. I believe this is a necessity and one of the rules
that Montresor must follow in order to feel full retribution. Montresor shows
us this ironic behavior when he hands Fortunato a bottle of De Grвve to drink.
Another humorous point of the story is when Fortunato says “the cough is a
mere nothing; it will not kill me. I shall not die of a cough.” (Poe 675) To
which Montresor replies “True – true…” This dark humor shows how collected
and calm Montresor is. He isnt nervous