The Cask of Amontillado - Book Report/Review Example

Edgar Allen Poe The story "the Cask Of Amontillado" was written in 1846. This short story belongs to a horror genre and depicts a crime committed by the narrator, Montresor against his friend, Fortunato. As any terror story, the aim of "the Cask Of Amontillado" is to frighten the reader, to ring about in him the state of pleasurable fear and horror. Thesis In this short story, the role of narrator is crucial, still there are some facts which make his narration unreliable. Montresor, the protagonist of the short story, an aristocrat who values honour and his good name above all. He insists that he has been insulted by Fortunato, and wants to take revenge upon him. Montresor presents himself as an honorable man from a high social class. He tells that his family has deep roots, that "the Montresors, were a great and numerous family" (Poe, n.d.). To add significance of his social position, he tells the motto of his family which is "Nemo me impune lacessit" Poe. N.d.). Montresor presents himself as a good-natured man who does everything to protect his dignity. This is in itself perhaps not the most exalted of literary ambitions, though it is remarkably difficult for an author to avoid crossing the boundary from the terrifying to the merely laughable. It seems that Montresor has a perfect breeding and tries to prove his position protecting his good name. Montresor presents himself as a judge who condemns his friend Fortunato to death. Taking into account his appearance and costume, it is evident that his representation of himself does not coincide with his true nature. Poe depicts him in black silk mask which symbolizes evil nature of Montresor: "thus speaking, Fortunato possessed himself of my arm; and putting on a mask of black silk and drawing a roquelaire closely about my person, I suffered him to hurry me to my palazzo" (Poe. N.d.). Montresor tries to persuade readers and himself that the death of Fortunato is the only possible way to avenge. Poe depicts that the character of Montresor does not show remorse for his thoughts and plans trying to kill his friend. Poe underlines that the experienced world in this sense is a human creation, the product of the activity of the mind, Montresor's personality. Montresor explains that: "I must not only punish but punish with impunity. A wrong is unredressed when retribution overtakes its redresser. It is equally unredressed when the avenger fails to make himself felt as such to him who has done the wrong" (Poe, n.d.). Poe's secure grasp of the subtleties of his environment is evident, but it is far more than a mere transcription of particulars. For while deploying descriptive detail in the conventional realistic way to build up a rich and convincing impression of the murder and the world he creates, Poe uses realism. Montresor himself shows only a desire to be alone. This suggests that Montresor's view of his own cruelty is a fearful one, that he is terrified and disgusted by it. "The clues are part of the larger "system" or "demonstration" motif of the story: Montresor, the diabolical rationalist, systematically demonstrates again and again that the arriviste, Fortunato, does not know, cannot distinguish" (Bloom, 1987, p 55). The plan of getting revenge consists of several stages in order to avoid suspicion and possible punishment. The date of the revenge has been carefully thought. Carnival is a time when people (servants) do not care much about their duties. For this reason, Montresor sends the servants away to the celebration. Montresor knows that Fortunato admires good wine and for this reason he ensnares him proposing to taste Amontillado. Montresor tells Fortunato "You have been imposed upon. And as for Luchresi, he cannot distinguish Sherry from Amontillado" (Poe. N.d.). this base flattery helps Montresor to pursued his victim to join him and drink little wine. The next step planed by Montresor is to astonish his victim. "The Amontillado!" ejaculated my friend, not yet recovered from his astonishment" (Poe, n.d.). After these words, Montresor chains Fortunato and builds the wall. He says: "I hastened to make an end of my labour. I forced the last stone into its position; I plastered it up. Against the new masonry I re-erected the old rampart of bones" (Poe. N.d.). The plan of Montresor is throughout thought and developed. It shows that Montresor is a really cruel man who feels no remorse and doe not hesitate committing this crime. Freedom here equals perfect adjustment, and Montresor has all the energy and assurance of a man troubled by doubt. His envy towards Fortunato has a great influence on the development and representation of his character. His plan depicts that he is cruel murder who does not account of possible consequences of his actions. This very fact forces readers to think that he is unreliable narrator. Also, Montresor does not tell about the nature and time of his insult. Punishment without prove is not typical for Poe's stories and for this reason it is difficult to believe Montresor's story. Another unreliable fact is that Montresor tells his story in fifty years after its occurrence. It is doubtful, that he remembers all minor details and feelings, words and actions in fifty years (Flannery, 2003). Nevertheless, these tenets describe the basic assumptions articulated in one way or another by the critics whose overtones of universalism laced the discussion. Yet it is precisely the lightening mood and the softening perspective which, at the last minute, unsettle reading of the short story. The problems unveiled in the short story reflect perception of people and their understanding of the self and world around them through the lens of morality and reliability (Magistrale, 2001). In sum, Poe appeals to readers stating that knowledge of the self is discovered through an understanding of the whole congeries of social bonds which determine character, and this in turn depends on an appreciation of the 'narrative' of social life. So the novel is based on a knowledge of the practical ways in which human beings attempt to shape the world through their major life activities. References 1. Bloom, H. The Tales of Poe. Chelsea House Publishers, 1987. 2. Flannery, S. The Cask of Amontillado. The Review of Contemporary Fiction, Vol. 23, 2003, p. 103. 3. Magistrale, T. Student Companion to Edgar Allan Poe. Greenwood Press, 2001. 4. Poe, E The Cask Of Amontillado. Available at: http://bau2.uibk.ac.at/sg/poe/works/cask_amo.html Read More