Analysis The Cask of Amontillado

casks of amontillado in commercial cellar

although subject matter of poe s story murder, cask of amontillado not tale of detection murders in rue morgue or purloined letter ; there no investigation of montresor s crime , criminal himself explains how committed murder. mystery in cask of amontillado in montresor s motive murder. without detective in story, reader solve mystery.

montresor never specifies motive beyond vague thousand injuries , when ventured upon insult refers. context provided, including montresor s observation family once great (but no longer so), , fortunato s belittling remarks montresor s exclusion freemasonry. many commentators conclude that, lacking significant reason, montresor must insane, though questionable because of intricate details of plot.

there evidence montresor clueless motive revenge victim. in recounting of murder, montresor notes, wrong unredressed when retribution overtakes redresser. equally unredressed when avenger fails make himself felt such him has done wrong . after fortunato chained wall , entombed alive, montresor merely mocks , mimics him, rather disclosing fortunato reasons behind exacting revenge. montresor may not have been entirely of exact nature of insults expected fortunato atone.

additional scrutiny vague injuries , insults may have simple matter of montresor s pride , not specific words fortunato. montresor comes established family. house had once been noble , respected, has fallen in status. fortunato, name seem indicate, has been blessed fortune , wealth , is, therefore, viewed unrefined montresor; however, lack of refinement has not stopped fortunato surpassing montresor in society, insult motive montresor s revenge.

there indication montresor blames unhappiness , loss of respect , dignity within society on fortunato. easy ascertain fortunato freemason, while montresor not, source of fortunato s recent ascension upper class society. montresor imparts blame fortunato when states, rich, respected, admired, beloved; happy, once . interchanging of fortunes suggestion that, since names montresor , fortunato mirror 1 another, there psychological reciprocal identification between victim , executioner. identification reciprocity further suggested when 1 takes consideration montresor entombs fortunato in montresor family catacombs rather dispatching him elsewhere in city amidst chaos of carnival. converging of 2 characters 1 able see larger symbolism of montresor crest – foot steps on serpent while serpent forever has fangs embedded in heel.

upon further investigation true nature of character, double meaning can derived montresor crest. position of montresor view himself owner of righteous foot crushing insolent fortunato serpent , thousand injuries progress insult. more allegoric meaning of poe s places actors in reverse. blind oaf fortunato has unintentionally stepped upon snake in grass – sneaky , cunning montresor – who, reward accidental bruising, sinks fangs deep heel of offender, forever linking them in form of mutual existence.

though fortunato presented connoisseur of fine wine, l. moffitt cecil of texas christian university argues actions in story make assumption questionable. example, fortunato comments on nobleman being unable distinguish amontillado sherry when amontillado in fact type of sherry, , treats de grave, expensive french wine, little regard drinking in single gulp. cecil states true wine connoisseur never sample wine while intoxicated , describes fortunato merely alcoholic. cecil suggests people might feel fortunato deserved buried alive wasting bottle of fine wine.

poe may have known bricklaying through personal experience. many periods in poe s life lack significant biographical details, including did after leaving southern literary messenger in 1837. poe biographer john h. ingram wrote sarah helen whitman named allen said poe worked in brickyard late in fall of 1834 . source has been identified robert t. p. allen, fellow west point student during poe s time there.

immurement, form of imprisonment, life, in person placed within enclosed space no exit, featured in other works poe, including fall of house of usher , premature burial , black cat , , berenice .