Deborah
ENGL 3850-02N
Supernatural Lit
Dr. Coats
29 January, 1998
The Cask of Amontillado
The first time I encountered Poe's Cask, I think, was in third or maybe even second grade. I also think we were given the impression that it took place in New Orleans, possibly due to the Carnival/Mardi Gras similarity. I guess I've been operating under that assumption until now, when I've finally reread it seriously. I like Cask's to-the-point brevity. "The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne the best I could..." It does not list them- it merely uses this as the reasoning for the incident about to occur. "Against the new masonry I re-erected the old rampart of bones. For the half of a century no mortal has disturbed them. In pace requiescat!" The incident is over- therefore the story is over. Very nice.
There is nothing lacking in the story; it is recounted fully and richly with Poe's usual style and flair. He packs sensory overload into his few short pages- six, to be exact- and this story seems to live more realistically than the story of Ligeia. Maybe this has more to do with the way Poe intended the stories to be arranged (ie: in order of drunkenness) than with his ability to write consistently good material.
The plot point that I found to be the most intriguing, however, has to be the subtle way that Montresor eases his conscience about what he does to Fortunato. Over the long, winding way to the elusive Amontillado, He gives Fortunato many chances to turn around and leave.
1) "My friend, no; I will not impose upon your good nature..." (117)
2) "My friend, no. It is not the engagement, but the severe cold with which I perceive you are afflicted..." (117)
3) "Come, we will go back; your health is precious..." (118)
4) "The nitre! see, it increases...Come, we will go back ere it is too late. Your cough-..." (118-9)
5) after chaining him to the wall: "Once more let me implore you to return." (120)
Each stubborn, drunken refusal to quit from Fortunato only serves to strengthen Montresor's resolve to rid himself of the odious pest. His will is iron; even the blood-curdling screams of a mortally fear-stricken Fortunato does not waver his intent. The only hesitation he has comes when he thinks he may have to silence Fortunato's screams so as not to attract attention. But, he is reassured by the depth and thickness of the walls that discovery will not occur, and screams along with and even over Fortunato. As the incident comes to a close, we do not know what Fortunato did to Montresor, but we feel that it has been properly revenged.