Outline: Revenge in “The Cask of Amontillado.”

Name:

Tutor:

Course:

Date:

Outline: Revenge in “The Cask of Amontillado.”

1. Introduction
   1. Thesis: Poe utilizes the dimensions of symbolism, metaphor, tone, and theme to illustrate Montressor’s murder of Fortunato as an outcome of revenge.
2. Symbolism
3. The incorporation of symbols in “The Cask of Amontillado” is illustrated by the crest of Montresor, which shows a serpent sinking its fangs into the man’s heel as he steps on it. Indeed, the crest can be seen as a representation of the relationship between Fortunato and Montresor. Even though the snake is under the man’s foot, it is the one that will finally cause harm on the human (Quinn 89).
4. The crest’s motto, “Nemo me impune laccessit” reinforces the notion that those who offend him will regret.
5. The title of the narrative also serves as an imperative sign of the motive of revenge.
6. Metaphor
   1. The name “Montressor” is actually a metaphor since the antagonist’s noble ancestry is undeniably his treasure (Quinn 121).
   2. The name “Fortunato” is a metaphor for fortune.
   3. The metaphors of ‘treasure’ and ‘fortune’ serve as elements, which clearly indicate the cause of conflict between the characters of Montresor and Fortunato (Quinn 123).
7. Tone
   1. “It was about dusk, one evening during the supreme madness of the carnival season” (Poe 739).
   2. The atmosphere is described as occurring at a period of “supreme madness” (Poe 740).
8. Theme
   1. Montressor focuses on seeking retribution based on the motto of his family, “Nemo me impune laccessit” (Poe 741).
   2. “a huge human foot d’or, in a field of azure; the foot crushes a serpent rampant whose fangs are embedded in the heel” (Poe 741).
9. Conclusion

Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado” is mostly imbued with the subject of vengeance. The characters of Montresor and Fortunato are locked in a setting that eventually highlights the sinister nature and depravity in the account of revenge as shown by the elements of symbolism, metaphor, tone, and theme.

Revenge in “The Cask of Amontillado”

The statement, “The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could; but when he ventured upon insult, I vowed revenge” (Poe 739), by Montressor, clearly sums up the narrative behind Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado”. Overall, the story involves a man’s declaration of guilt after committing a terrible crime. The narrator, Montresor, is guilty of the crime. However, the manner in which the story progresses positions the reader in a confounding place, wondering if he is truly mentally competent. Arguably, the death of Fortunato by the antagonist seems to lack any motive, which facilitates the conclusion that Montressor is undeniably insane. However, the heinous deed committed by the antagonist reveals one particular motivation: vengeance. In this respect, Poe utilizes the dimensions of symbolism, metaphor, tone, and theme to illustrate Montressor’s murder of Fortunato as an outcome of revenge.

The incorporation of symbols in “The Cask of Amontillado” is represented by the crest of Montressor, which shows a serpent sinking its fangs into the man’s heel as he steps on it. Indeed, the crest can be seen as a representation of the relationship between Fortunato and Montresor. Even though the snake is under the man’s foot, it is the one that will finally cause harm on the human (Quinn 89). Additionally, the crest’s motto, “Nemo me impune laccessit” reinforces the notion that those who offend him will regret. Aside from the symbols mentioned, the title of the narrative also serves as an imperative sign of the motive of revenge. Accordingly, the heading “The Cask of Amontillado” possesses both a plain and a figurative connotation. The word, ‘cask’, stands for a container, which is typically used to store wine. Interestingly, the term ‘Amontillado’ is a wine, which Fortunato longs to taste. Because of his curious nature, Fortunato’s lethal encounter is summed by his death inside the storage (cask) created specifically for him (Quinn 189). Furthermore, the wine (Amontillado) possesses a particular meaning for the antagonist: success. With the mention of the wine, Montressor displays his success in seizing Fortunato, and the success of his revenge plan on the man who apparently offended him.

The use of metaphor in “The Cask of Amontillado” serves as an important aspect in hiding the motive of vengeance by Montressor from Fortunato as well as the reader. Foremost, Poe’s utilization of proper nouns such as Montressor, Amontillado, Fortunato, and Luchresi, demonstrate the inclination of the author towards witticism and interest with the multiple connotations of foreign terminology. For instance, the name “Montressor” is actually a metaphor since the antagonist’s noble ancestry is undeniably his treasure (Quinn 121). Additionally, the respective metaphor may refer to the hiding grounds (the catacombs) which are under the antagonist’s palazzo. Hence, the incorporation of the respective figure of speech sets the context for the act of vengeance planned against Fortunato by Montressor. Additionally, the name “Fortunato” is a metaphor for fortune. In this case, the metaphor sets the grounds for revenge with Fortunato facing his death despite him being a character of good fortune. Additionally, the metaphors of ‘treasure’ and ‘fortune’ serve as elements, which precisely indicate the cause of conflict between the characters of Montresor and Fortunato (Quinn 123). For Montressor, the ‘treasure’ that he possesses is based on virtue. On the other hand, Fortunato’s wealth is based on good chance (Quinn 123). Hence, Montressor’s motive for revenge is based on the assertion that a person of lower aristocratic lineage such as Fortunato cannot offend him with impunity and go unpunished.

The tone used in “The Cask of Amontillado” is dark and unsettling. This serves as a distinguishing factor of the story since the narrated events take place in a carnival context, which is presumably joyous. Even though the reader expects emotions such as joy and happiness to be present based on the inclusion of the carnival, the tone is alternately dampened by connecting the reader to the darkness of the subject matter. For instance, Poe writes, “It was about dusk, one evening during the supreme madness of the carnival season” (Poe 739). Rather than provide a picture of a festival with a beaming ambiance, the author notes that the day is ending and growing dark. Additionally, the atmosphere is described as occurring at a period of “supreme madness” (Poe 740). Hence, based on the tone, it becomes apparent that something sinister and evil is present within the respective setting.

Lastly, the theme of “The Cask of Amontillado” itself evokes a powerful account of revenge. The antagonistic narrator of the tale, Montressor, vows an act of vengeance against Fortunato for offending him. As such, he focuses on seeking retribution based on the motto of his family, “Nemo me impune laccessit” (Poe 741). Additionally, the family emblem, which carries the motto, materializes as “a huge human foot d’or, in a field of azure; the foot crushes a serpent rampant whose fangs are embedded in the heel” (Poe 741). It is imperative for the antagonist to ensure that his victim knows the circumstances that he currently occupies. In fact, Montressor will gain bliss from the actuality that Fortunato’s ignorance of the events that surround him, particularly his savoring curiosity for the Amontillado will ironically be the cause of his demise hence creating the needed effect for Montressor.

Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado” is mostly imbued with the subject of vengeance. The characters of Montresor and Fortunato are locked in a setting that eventually highlights the sinister nature and depravity in the account of revenge. The first dimension, symbolism, highlights this fact by incorporating the Montressor family’s crest and the motto, which clearly incline on the need for retribution. Additionally, the symbols, the cask, and the Amontillado, represent the circumstances that contribute and depict Fortunato’s demise. The element of metaphor represents revenge based on the deeper meanings, which surround the names, Montresor and Fortunato, and the ironic death of the latter. Lastly, the elements of tone and theme ultimately set the platform for the antagonist’s evil motives.

Works Cited

Poe, Edgar Allan. “The Cask of Amontillado.” Bedford Introduction to Literature: Reading, Thinking, Writing. Ed. Michael Meyer. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2013. 739-743. Print.

Quinn, Arthur Hobson. Edgar Allan Poe: A Critical Biography. New York: D. Appleton-Century Company, 2011.