The Cask of Amontillado - Essay Example

The very first paragraph of The Cask of Amontillado is the first evidence that the narrator is reliable. He rationally spells out the entire reason for killing Fortunato the way he does. He says, “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, 107).” In short, the narrator is saying that two criteria need to be met in order for him to get back at Fortunato for his insult.

First, he needs to know exactly who was killing him and, second, he (the narrator) needed to get away with it. This level of logic and clear statement of purpose leads the reader to believe that the narrator may indeed be insane, he is nonetheless a reliable source fro reporting the action. Another reason the narrator is to be beloved as reliable is the details he includes in the story concerning how he was able to steal Fortunato, a prominent and rich man, away from the carnival with no one knowing about it.

The narrator takes great care to explain with description the type of costume Fortunato was wearing. He says, “The man wore motley. He had on a tight-fitting parti-striped dress and his head was surmounted by the conical cap and bells (Poe, 109).” The narrator does this to show that due to the comedic nature of Fortunato’s costume, no one would have even recognized him. As for identifying the narrator, he himself relates, “Putting on a mask of black silk and drawing a roquelaire closely about my person, I suffered him to hurry me to my palazzo.

” These disguises, coupled with the dismissal of the house staff so they could partake in carnival, explains adequately how he was able to get Fortunato into the cellars unobserved. A final reason to trust the narrator of this tale is the glimmer of humanity he shows just before finishing the last bit of mortar that seals shut the tomb of Fortunato. The narrator relates, “For a brief moment I hesitated -- I trembled. Unsheathing my rapier, I began to grope with it about the recess; but the thought of an instant reassured me.

I placed my hand upon the solid fabric of the catacombs, and felt satisfied (Poe, 112).” The narrator does this in response of the vigorous clanging of the chained form. The initial reading may seem to indicate that he was afraid that Fortunato might somehow escape and break through the fresh mortar. Another interpretation of the narrator’s actions could be that he was second guessing himself. Were the cries of the victim reaching his heart? Was he experiencing self-doubt? This admission, however veiled would not have come from a person that was boasting or bragging about an act that hey had not actually committed.

The narrator does steel himself and carries out his diabolical act of vengeance against Fortunato, but not before revealing the slightest hint of self-doubt. The narrator is almost certainly insane, but this does not make him an unreliable source for the story.