The Cask of Amontillado - Essay Example

The Cask of Amontillado Edger Allan Poe is considered a trend setter for scary short stories at the first half of 19th century. The audience by then had not been quite accustomed to these themes in stories of murders and live burials. The Cask of Amontillado is yet another short story based on Poe typical theme of revenge and murder. The narrator and murderer in the story is never introduced by Poe till the end of the story. This keeps reader engaged in the plot of the story and he keeps guessing the plot structure and characterization additionally, it has also supported the writer in escalating the suspense and thrill in the story.

Although, there are only two characters, the murderer and his victim Fortunato, the reader is never bothered with the monotony of the plot. This is because the writer has portrayed the characters very strongly and both of them have shown an equal talent to control and dominate the scene. Poe has articulated the overall description of the plot and its details beautifully and has built the story bit by bit without damaging its tempo. It seems as if Poe is painting a picture where each stroke of his brush is equally important and meaningful.

Poe has used symbolism beautifully. His best symbols are darkness, death, fear and cold. These symbols emphasize the mood of the writer more effectively and also help him to create an environment of dread, horror and revenge. The coldness that dominates the whole story and reiterated by Poe leaves an impression of ruthlessness and cruelty. The coldness is introduced right at the time when the narrator came across Fortunato, "My friend, no. It is not the engagement, but the severe cold with which I perceive you are afflicted.

The vaults are insufferably damp. They are encrusted with nitre." (Allan, 1846). Cold symbolizes the lack of trust and affection in the relation despite an apparent intimacy. The narrator cheers for Furtnato’s long life while executing a plan to bury him alive. "And I to your long life." Superfluous display of concern for the health and care of the Fortunato is an exhibit of false pretentions of the narrator. Similarly, the appearance of the serpent symbolizes the distrust and hostility. There is a marked similarity between the fangs of the serpent, and “sparkling eyes”.

It seems as if the atmosphere is flawed with the “nitre” of cynicism. The darkness is used to express the hidden plans and intricacy of the relation in human nature. The narrator of the story has uttered the philosophical reasoning time and again. Justifying his revenge and the murder of Fortunato, he expressed his objective in these words, “I must not only punish but punish with impunity. A wrong is unredressed when retribution overtakes its redresser.” (Allan). However, he had never been justifying his acts and there had never been a second thought in his mind that reflects the fear of law or society.

This symbolizes the disintegration of social structure and value system. Moreover, the narrator has neither disclosed any reason of enmity nor the circumstances that have compelled him to sentence this capital punishment. This leaves an impact of an expedition full of suspense, distrust, fear and murder but all without a cause and mission. There are several instances where Poe has unveiled the social evil through his satire. Poe has beautifully use the burlesque to exposed the dishonesty of the attendant who left the place of duty immediately after the commandment of their master, “These orders were sufficient, I well knew, to insure their immediate disappearance, one and all, as soon as my back was turned.

” (Allan). This also exposes the shrewdness of the narrator who had skillfully planned and executed the murderer of his friend while making him believe of his sincere concern and care for his health and comfort. It seems, as if everybody in the society was trying to deceive and betray the trust by first winning the heart and soul of the victim. Poe has displayed his art and strong hold over the literary tools in the short story, “The cask of Amontillado”. He has successfully engaged the readers’ attention.

However the story, despite its literary taste and conformity to the artistic standards fails to leave a lasting effect on reader’s mind. Poe has not justified the act of murderer neither a solid reason is presented in the course of short story that supports this act of brutality. The “revenge” remained a mysterious act in the absence of any background information that can through some light on the nature of “injuries” and “insult” that ultimately resulted in the narrators resolve to bury his friend alive.

These topics were new for a reader of early nineteenth century but Poe has laid the foundations of new taste in English literature and therefore is known widely among literary circles as the inventor of horror and suspense short stories. Works Cited Web Publications Allan, Edger, Poe. “The cask of Amontillado”. xroads.viginia 1846. Web. 14 July, 2010.