Deadly Consequences
Katy White
Professor Richards
English 1302 (M/F 10-12)
Deadly Consequences
In Edgar Allan Poe’s The Cask of Amontillado Fontunato had several weak points that Montresor took full advantage of. Those weaknesses lead to the demise of Fortunato. One of Fortunato’s weaknesses was pride. He was extremely prideful in his knowledge of wine. Trust was another weakness of Fortunato. He mistakenly trusted Montresor all the way to his death. A drunken Fortunato was proven to an easy victim of vengeance. After bearing the many insults of Fortunato he Montresor takes justice into his own hands. The Montresor family’s motto was strong in that belief of seeking one’s own revenge. Montresor used Fortunato’s weaknesses of pride, trust, and the fact that he was drunk to his advantage.
The carnival season was the perfect time to plot murder because there was no order. Montresor referred to carnival time as “supreme madness” (Poe 1200). He knew during this time Fortunato would be drunk, and not in his normal state of judgment. Montresor knew Fortunato was drunk because of the way he greeted himself, “He accosted me with excessive warmth, for he had been drinking much” (Poe 1200). “He turned toward me, and looked into my eyes two filmy orbs that distilled the rheum of intoxication”, Montresor could see in the eyes of Fortunato that he was drunk. (Poe 1202). Fortunato’s intoxication made him an easy victim.
Fortunato liked to impress others of his extensive knowledge of wine. Montresor stated “He prided himself on his connoisseurship in wine” (Poe 1200). Fontunato could not bear Montresor possibly seeking help from anyone else. Montresor teased Fontunato: “As you are engaged, I am on my way to Luchesi. If any one has critical turn, it is he. He will tell me…” (Poe 1201). Fontunato wanted to be the person to distinguish the Amontillado, and did not want Montresor to confide in Luchesi to do so. Fortunato was falling into Montresor’s sinful plan of
Professor Richards
English 1302 (M/F 10-12)
Deadly Consequences
In Edgar Allan Poe’s The Cask of Amontillado Fontunato had several weak points that Montresor took full advantage of. Those weaknesses lead to the demise of Fortunato. One of Fortunato’s weaknesses was pride. He was extremely prideful in his knowledge of wine. Trust was another weakness of Fortunato. He mistakenly trusted Montresor all the way to his death. A drunken Fortunato was proven to an easy victim of vengeance. After bearing the many insults of Fortunato he Montresor takes justice into his own hands. The Montresor family’s motto was strong in that belief of seeking one’s own revenge. Montresor used Fortunato’s weaknesses of pride, trust, and the fact that he was drunk to his advantage.
The carnival season was the perfect time to plot murder because there was no order. Montresor referred to carnival time as “supreme madness” (Poe 1200). He knew during this time Fortunato would be drunk, and not in his normal state of judgment. Montresor knew Fortunato was drunk because of the way he greeted himself, “He accosted me with excessive warmth, for he had been drinking much” (Poe 1200). “He turned toward me, and looked into my eyes two filmy orbs that distilled the rheum of intoxication”, Montresor could see in the eyes of Fortunato that he was drunk. (Poe 1202). Fortunato’s intoxication made him an easy victim.
Fortunato liked to impress others of his extensive knowledge of wine. Montresor stated “He prided himself on his connoisseurship in wine” (Poe 1200). Fontunato could not bear Montresor possibly seeking help from anyone else. Montresor teased Fontunato: “As you are engaged, I am on my way to Luchesi. If any one has critical turn, it is he. He will tell me…” (Poe 1201). Fontunato wanted to be the person to distinguish the Amontillado, and did not want Montresor to confide in Luchesi to do so. Fortunato was falling into Montresor’s sinful plan of
Cited: New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services. N.p.: n.p., n.d. PDF. Poe, Edgar A. "The Cask of Amontillado." Making Literature Matter. 4th ed. Boston/ New York: Bedford/ St. Martin 's, 2009. N. pag. Print. "Redress." Def. 1B. Dictionary.com. N.p., n.d. Web.