The Cask of Amontillado - Essay Example

It should be noted that pride solely controlled the actions of the main characters, Montresor and Fortunato. The pride of Montresor has become his main motivation in plotting his horrific revenge. The opening statement of the story justifies this: "A thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult I vowed revenge." Even though the story fails to clearly identify how Montresor was insulted by Fortunato, it becomes apparent that the former regards himself very high enough for his pride to be severely hurt and stung because of this.

This pride motivated him not only to punish but "punish with impunity." Thus, Montresor states, that he should not "fail to make himself felt to him as such to him who has done him wrong." The murderer is overwhelmed by his self-righteousness, justifying even a horrible crime like murder. Montresor's murder of Fortunato can also be interpreted as his quest of redeeming the pride of his great family. He believes that the insult he has received from Fortunato is defamation not just to him to his whole family.

Thus, he intended to live up to the Montressor family's motto of "Nemo mi impune which can be translated as "No one insults me without paying dearly" even if this means killing the person who hurt him. The image in the arm of Montressor, "a huge human foot d'Or, in a field azure; the foot crushes a serpent whose fangs are imbedded in the heel" further emphasizes his pride and intolerance losing face. The unsuspecting victim, Fortunato, is just as overtaken with pride as his murderer since he is ready to put his life at stake just to prove his skill in wine tasting.

In the story, Fortunato is highly admired and respected because of his "connoisseurship in wine." Thus, he is quite offended when Montresor said that he would approach Luchresi instead. Whatever it may cost, Fortunato is determined to uphold his pride and dignity of being a "true virtuoso in spirit." Because of this pride, he is tricked into going to Montresor's palazzo. It is also this pride that blinds him to his obliviously perilous situation. Fortunato ignores his deep coughs and never even bothers to ask the rationale of the Amontillado being placed in the family's tomb.

Like Montresor, he is overcome with the pride of proving himself. "The Cask of Amontillado" is a portrayal of how pride ruins an individual. In the case of Montresor, his pride robs him of the capacity to forgive a friend who has wronged him. Instead, this pride becomes the sole motivation for his revenge and even the justification for his crime. On the other hand, it is also Fortunato's pride that lured him to death.