The Cask Of Amontillado Analysis

THE thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult I vowed revenge. You, who so well know the nature of my soul, will not suppose, however, that gave utterance to a threat. At length I would be avenged; this was a point definitely, settled --but the very definitiveness with which it was resolved precluded the idea of risk. I must not only punish but punish with impunity. A wrong is unredressed when retribution overtakes its redresser. It is equally unredressed when the avenger fails to make himself felt as such to him who has done the wrong.
It must be understood that neither by word nor deed had I given Fortunato cause to doubt my good will. I continued, as was my in to smile in his face, and he did not perceive that my to smile now was at the thought of his immolation.
He had a weak point --this Fortunato --although in other regards he was a man to be respected and even feared. He prided himself on his connoisseurship in wine. Few Italians have the true virtuoso spirit. For the most part their enthusiasm is adopted to suit the time and opportunity, to practise imposture upon the British and Austrian millionaires. In painting and gemmary, Fortunato, like his countrymen, was a quack, but in the matter of old wines he was sincere. In this respect I did not differ from him materially; --I was skilful in the Italian vintages myself, and bought largely whenever I could.
It was about dusk, one evening during the supreme madness of the carnival season, that I encountered my friend. He accosted me with excessive warmth, for he had been drinking much. The man wore motley. He had on a tight-fitting parti-striped dress, and his head was surmounted by the conical cap and bells. I was so pleased to see him that I thought I should never have done wringing his hand.
I said to him --"My dear Fortunato, you are luckily met. How remarkably well you are looking to-day. But I have received a pipe of what passes for Amontillado, and I have my doubts."
"How?" said he. "Amontillado, A pipe? Impossible! And in the middle of the carnival!"
"I have my doubts," I replied; "and I was silly enough to pay the full Amontillado price without consulting you in the matter. You were not to be found, and I was fearful of losing a bargain."
"Amontillado!"
"I have my doubts."
"Amontillado!"
"And I must satisfy them."
"Amontillado!"
"As you are engaged, I am on my way to Luchresi. If any one has a critical turn it is he. He will tell me --"
"Luchresi cannot tell Amontillado from Sherry."
"And yet some fools will have it that his taste is a match for your own.
"Come, let us go."
"Whither?"
"To your vaults."
"My friend, no; I will not impose upon your good nature. I perceive you have an engagement. Luchresi--"
"I have no engagement; --come."
"My friend, no. It is not the engagement, but the severe cold with which I perceive you are afflicted. The vaults are insufferably damp. They are encrusted with nitre."
"Let us go, nevertheless. The cold is merely nothing. Amontillado! You have been imposed upon. And as for Luchresi, he cannot distinguish Sherry from Amontillado."
Thus speaking, Fortunato possessed himself of my arm; and putting on a mask of black silk and drawing a roquelaire closely about my person, I suffered him to hurry me to my palazzo.
There were no attendants at home; they had absconded to make merry in honour of the time. I had told them that I should not return until the morning, and had given them explicit orders not to stir from the house. These orders were sufficient, I well knew, to insure their immediate disappearance, one and all, as soon as my back was turned.
I took from their sconces two flambeaux, and giving one to Fortunato, bowed him through several suites of rooms to the archway that led into the vaults. I passed down a long and winding staircase, requesting him to be cautious as he followed. We came at length to the foot of the descent, and stood together upon the damp ground of the catacombs of the Montresors.
The gait of my friend was unsteady, and the bells upon his cap jingled as he strode.
"The pipe," he said.
"It is farther on," said I; "but observe the white web-work which gleams from these cavern walls."
He turned towards me, and looked into my eves with two filmy orbs that distilled the rheum of intoxication.
"Nitre?" he asked, at length.
"Nitre," I replied. "How long have you had that cough?"
"Ugh! ugh! ugh! --ugh! ugh! ugh! --ugh! ugh! ugh! --ugh! ugh! ugh! --ugh! ugh! ugh!"
My poor friend found it impossible to reply for many minutes.
"It is nothing," he said, at last.
"Come," I said, with decision, "we will go back; your health is precious. You are rich, respected, admired, beloved; you are happy, as once I was. You are a man to be missed. For me it is no matter. We will go back; you will be ill, and I cannot be responsible. Besides, there is Luchresi --"
"Enough," he said; "the cough's a mere nothing; it will not kill me. I shall not die of a cough."
"True --true," I replied; "and, indeed, I had no intention of alarming you unnecessarily --but you should use all proper caution. A draught of this Medoc will defend us from the damps.
Here I knocked off the neck of a bottle which I drew from a long row of its fellows that lay upon the mould.
"Drink," I said, presenting him the wine.
He raised it to his lips with a leer. He paused and nodded to me familiarly, while his bells jingled.
"I drink," he said, "to the buried that repose around us."
"And I to your long life."
He again took my arm, and we proceeded.
"These vaults," he said, "are extensive."
"The Montresors," I replied, "were a great and numerous family."
"I forget your arms."
"A huge human foot d'or, in a field azure; the foot crushes a serpent rampant whose fangs are imbedded in the heel."
"And the motto?"
"Nemo me impune lacessit."
"Good!" he said.
The wine sparkled in his eyes and the bells jingled. My own fancy grew warm with the Medoc. We had passed through long walls of piled skeletons, with casks and puncheons intermingling, into the inmost recesses of the catacombs. I paused again, and this time I made bold to seize Fortunato by an arm above the elbow.
"The nitre!" I said; "see, it increases. It hangs like moss upon the vaults. We are below the river's bed. The drops of moisture trickle among the bones. Come, we will go back ere it is too late. Your cough --"
"It is nothing," he said; "let us go on. But first, another draught of the Medoc."
I broke and reached him a flagon of De Grave. He emptied it at a breath. His eyes flashed with a fierce light. He laughed and threw the bottle upwards with a gesticulation I did not understand.
I looked at him in surprise. He repeated the movement --a grotesque one.
"You do not comprehend?" he said.
"Not I," I replied.
"Then you are not of the brotherhood."
"How?"
"You are not of the masons."
"Yes, yes," I said; "yes, yes."
"You? Impossible! A mason?"
"A mason," I replied.
"A sign," he said, "a sign."
"It is this," I answered, producing from beneath the folds of my roquelaire a trowel.
"You jest," he exclaimed, recoiling a few paces. "But let us proceed to the Amontillado."
"Be it so," I said, replacing the tool beneath the cloak and again offering him my arm. He leaned upon it heavily. We continued our route in search of the Amontillado. We passed through a range of low arches, descended, passed on, and descending again, arrived at a deep crypt, in which the foulness of the air caused our flambeaux rather to glow than flame.
At the most remote end of the crypt there appeared another less spacious. Its walls had been lined with human remains, piled to the vault overhead, in the fashion of the great catacombs of Paris. Three sides of this interior crypt were still ornamented in this manner. From the fourth side the bones had been thrown down, and lay promiscuously upon the earth, forming at one point a mound of some size. Within the wall thus exposed by the displacing of the bones, we perceived a still interior crypt or recess, in depth about four feet, in width three, in height six or seven. It seemed to have been constructed for no especial use within itself, but formed merely the interval between two of the colossal supports of the roof of the catacombs, and was backed by one of their circumscribing walls of solid granite.
It was in vain that Fortunato, uplifting his dull torch, endeavoured to pry into the depth of the recess. Its termination the feeble light did not enable us to see.
"Proceed," I said; "herein is the Amontillado. As for Luchresi --"
"He is an ignoramus," interrupted my friend, as he stepped unsteadily forward, while I followed immediately at his heels. In niche, and finding an instant he had reached the extremity of the niche, and finding his progress arrested by the rock, stood stupidly bewildered. A moment more and I had fettered him to the granite. In its surface were two iron staples, distant from each other about two feet, horizontally. From one of these depended a short chain, from the other a padlock. Throwing the links about his waist, it was but the work of a few seconds to secure it. He was too much astounded to resist. Withdrawing the key I stepped back from the recess.
"Pass your hand," I said, "over the wall; you cannot help feeling the nitre. Indeed, it is very damp. Once more let me implore you to return. No? Then I must positively leave you. But I must first render you all the little attentions in my power."
"The Amontillado!" ejaculated my friend, not yet recovered from his astonishment.
"True," I replied; "the Amontillado."
As I said these words I busied myself among the pile of bones of which I have before spoken. Throwing them aside, I soon uncovered a quantity of building stone and mortar. With these materials and with the aid of my trowel, I began vigorously to wall up the entrance of the niche.
I had scarcely laid the first tier of the masonry when I discovered that the intoxication of Fortunato had in a great measure worn off. The earliest indication I had of this was a low moaning cry from the depth of the recess. It was not the cry of a drunken man. There was then a long and obstinate silence. I laid the second tier, and the third, and the fourth; and then I heard the furious vibrations of the chain. The noise lasted for several minutes, during which, that I might hearken to it with the more satisfaction, I ceased my labours and sat down upon the bones. When at last the clanking subsided, I resumed the trowel, and finished without interruption the fifth, the sixth, and the seventh tier. The wall was now nearly upon a level with my breast. I again paused, and holding the flambeaux over the mason-work, threw a few feeble rays upon the figure within.
A succession of loud and shrill screams, bursting suddenly from the throat of the chained form, seemed to thrust me violently back. For a brief moment I hesitated, I trembled. Unsheathing my rapier, I began to grope with it about the recess; but the thought of an instant reassured me. I placed my hand upon the solid fabric of the catacombs, and felt satisfied. I reapproached the wall; I replied to the yells of him who clamoured. I re-echoed, I aided, I surpassed them in volume and in strength. I did this, and the clamourer grew still.
It was now midnight, and my task was drawing to a close. I had completed the eighth, the ninth and the tenth tier. I had finished a portion of the last and the eleventh; there remained but a single stone to be fitted and plastered in. I struggled with its weight; I placed it partially in its destined position. But now there came from out the niche a low laugh that erected the hairs upon my head. It was succeeded by a sad voice, which I had difficulty in recognizing as that of the noble Fortunato. The voice said--
"Ha! ha! ha! --he! he! he! --a very good joke, indeed --an excellent jest. We will have many a rich laugh about it at the palazzo --he! he! he! --over our wine --he! he! he!"
"The Amontillado!" I said.
"He! he! he! --he! he! he! --yes, the Amontillado. But is it not getting late? Will not they be awaiting us at the palazzo, the Lady Fortunato and the rest? Let us be gone."
"Yes," I said, "let us be gone."
"For the love of God, Montresor!"
"Yes," I said, "for the love of God!"
But to these words I hearkened in vain for a reply. I grew impatient. I called aloud --
"Fortunato!"
No answer. I called again --
"Fortunato!"
No answer still. I thrust a torch through the remaining aperture and let it fall within. There came forth in return only a jingling of the bells. My heart grew sick; it was the dampness of the catacombs that made it so. I hastened to make an end of my labour. I forced the last stone into its position; I plastered it up. 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!

.: :.

i find that this piece is fairly easy to comprehend. The story is centered around a proud, arrogant character who feels that he has the right to murder Fortunado because he has "ventured upon insult" The character of Montresor, himself, is very ruthless and arrogant. However, i find it odd that Montresor did not react on anger at all. He was just insulted and made the desicion to kill Fortunado in a relatively calm manner.

| Posted on 2008-11-18 | by a guest

.: :.

i find that this piece is fairly easy to comprehend. The story is centered around a proud, arrogant character who feels that he has the right to murder Fortunado because he has "ventured upon insult" The character of Montresor, himself, is very ruthless and arrogant. However, i find it odd that Montresor did not react on anger at all. He was just insulted and made the desicion to kill Fortunado in a relatively calm manner.

| Posted on 2008-11-18 | by a guest

.: :.

lol my mom and i had a hard time understanding this story too, i had too read it for english class AND take a quiz on it...also, the reverse psychology was pretty good. i understood that part.

| Posted on 2008-11-13 | by a guest

.: :.

I think it is ironic that the person criticizing the "Emo Kid" for grammar mistakes made a mistake as well. You can't be pride and vanity. You can be proud and vain. lol

| Posted on 2008-11-12 | by a guest

.: :.

in relation to in relation to original emo kid:
i dunt kno y u r sayin he cnt tlk gud. he is gud at grmar and crp. lol

| Posted on 2008-11-06 | by a guest

.: :.

In response to that "Original Emo Kids'" comment:
YOU MADE NO SENSE WHATSOEVER!
What the fudge are you raving on about, not understanding how others cannot understand?!
Are you some sort of 9th grade literary genius!
I think not.
Your grammar - well I won't even start on that...
"Intelligently demented"?! I think it is you, who is demented in an unintelligent way...
So don't comment if you cannot even stick to your own values, Emo Kid.
Choice of words - have you heard of 'pride' or 'vanity'? Well, that too, is quite ironic because you too, seem to be both.

| Posted on 2008-11-06 | by a guest

.: :.

Im a 9th grader and i dont understand how other 9th graders dont understand this short story. It is dementred and has a bigger vocabulary but once you get past thos factors it is very simple. I personly love this story, the whole hunger for revenge brings on a great story that is really enjoyable. Also i lov ehow Poe uses both verbal irony and dramatic irony and also i like how he puts the mind tricks in there asking a nemerous amount of times if fortunado would like to leave and yet he knew that fortunado had preservence and would want to continue. Nicely thought of, well put togeter and apperently to some hard to grasp but over all a really nice story. Egar allan poes work is intelegently demented, he is the ORIGINAL EMO KID!!!

| Posted on 2008-10-26 | by a guest

.: :.

"Free Mason refrence" When Montressor was talking about "being" a mason he was probably responding in scarcasim to Fortunato's question. Montressor cleverly knows that he is detering the attention of his drunkin friend when he pulls out his trowel (which is a tool for masony).At that point in the conversation it seems that Fortundo aknowledges he lost the conversation in his intoxication and moves along to the Amontillado.

| Posted on 2008-10-24 | by a guest

.: :.

well you see even though this story is about Montresur Walling fortunato if you actually look and have read Poe in other of his writing and know his biography he was a very big drinker also if you read the Black Cat it's the same way Walling a Woman, if you try to pick these two stories apart psychologically he is actually trying to speak of his conscious and his subconscious trying to escape from. It is a bit confusing what I'm trying to say but I'm trying to be short cause I don't want to write a whole paper in here lol so go and brake it down for yourself and see if I have a valid point or not, and after all I could be wrong I have nothing but a few commas in my writing lol.

| Posted on 2008-10-24 | by a guest

.: :.

i don't get it! i have to get ten quotes from the story and explain why their intresting for homework, im in 9th grade, i don't really understand waht im reading i just see weird words!

| Posted on 2008-10-16 | by a guest

.: :.

I can't believe a teacher would have to read a few times to understand this work it is not that hard for a college educated English major.This is too pathetic.

| Posted on 2008-10-14 | by a guest

.: :.

I do not get the whole story. All I know is that Montresor took Fortunato into a catacombs when he is drunk and walls him in!

| Posted on 2008-09-14 | by a guest

.: :.

Montresors keeps to his family motto in that he seeks revenge on Fortunato. "Revenge is best served on a cold plate." The narrator waited until the perfect time to strike, without feeling emotion (cold plate: cold heart). Motresors mocks Fortunato when he gives him multiple chances to escape the Catacombs. He also brings Luchresi up to keep realing Fortunato to the bait. I thouroughly enjoyed this short story, and this might help with some blind spots.

| Posted on 2008-09-04 | by a guest

.: :.

I found it confusing too. I had to read it in plain english to understand what was going on.

| Posted on 2008-06-11 | by a guest

.: lol :.

I was intrigued by many of the posts, mostly the ones from high school students...this story wasnt confusing in the least. picking up some of the under tones sure, but understanding the plot wasnt difficult. i guess thats why you are taking the class!

| Posted on 2008-04-25 | by a guest

.: :.

The reader never finds out the actual reason for the murder of Fortunato. He has insulted Montressor but you never know exactly what it was.The theme of the story is that of revenge. Montressor is a very smart and calculating killer. he knows Fortunato's weakness and he exploits it to perfection. He knows that he prides himself on his wine criticism so he effortlessly leads him to his inevitable death. while they are walking Montressor keeps asking Fortunato to return above ground and that they will come back at another time. This reverse psychology works like a charm.
Also, it could be Forgiveness as well. Montressor writes down what he had done, but for what reason? To gloat? To Repent? It is very possible that he is seeking forgivness for his sins.
Irony also peeks its head out in this short story. Fortunato is supposed to be a well respected and wealthy member of the commmunity. However, when he is murdered he is dressed like a fool and intoxicated like a drunk. Of course the name Fortunato is a symbol of irony. His name suggests that he is fortunate though he is very unfortunate in the end because of his gruesome death.

| Posted on 2008-03-31 | by a guest

.: Confusing :.

i found this story extremely confusing. I read it for freshman english and the teacher explained nothing to us. i had to resort to the internet to find an explanation. so if you don't understand it then don't feel bad.

| Posted on 2008-03-04 | by a guest

.: confusion :.

I believe this story portray's a confusion Poe found in himself. I think all of his writings come from the childhood he had. This story takes a turn on Fortunado, as he is blindsighted and confused. By the way, it took me forver to understand this.

| Posted on 2008-02-19 | by a guest

.: Outwitted :.

In the end the story says that Fortunado was acquiring his senses and acknowledging the situation he was in. Then i thought if your about to die why not enact revenge urself? My thought is that when Fortunado starts talking about going back to the party hes actually outwitting Montresor pointing out the fact that he might be missed by people and Montresor would be questioned since he was the last person seen with him. I believe that also explains the 50 years or so of misery and finally o

| Posted on 2008-01-22 | by a guest

.: blahh :.

This story is full of verbal irony because when MOntresor says he will not die of a cough the end contradicts to this statement and also when Montresor compliments Fortunato by saying he looks well when actually he is very sick. The motto that MOntresor speaks of is also foreshadowing the death of Fortunado because of teh insults that Montresor had to live with. The arrogance of Fortunado had lead him to his death because he was foolish enough not to realize the death that was treown upon him b

| Posted on 2008-01-14 | by a guest

.: :.

It was ironic beacuse the narrator Montresos knew that Fortunato would die to hypoxia inside the niche and therefore answered "True true."

| Posted on 2007-12-21 | by a guest

.: RE: "your all wrong" :.

whoever said there was no irony in the cough thing your right but the reason is that while being walled in the cattacomb the dust and everything made him cough and loose oxegen faster. also starvation and all the other factors

| Posted on 2007-12-13 | by a guest

.: :.

this is just like a muder by the book when you think about it its just like when a brother fells sorry for a brother and the only exeption is to just kill your own brother, sure he was crazy but why should he die of something els like when he says "i will not die of a cough" you might aswell not say what really happend. so when i said its just like when two brothers kill each other its like if they are very close brothers when i understood this i looked at the story diffrendly.

| Posted on 2007-12-06 | by a guest

.: Montresor's character :.

Montresor is not only very sensitive and proud but quite a calculating man as well, psycho or sick if you wish. He dies without any sign of repentance; he doesn't repent, just like the devil doesn't. He dies a bitter man, leaving this world without peace and entering the next without peace; just like Good Browne died with the ironic "R.I.P." on his grave. Both of them are lost souls.

| Posted on 2007-11-26 | by a guest

.: :.

This is one of my favorite Poe stories. The last words of the story, "In pace requiescat!" are disputed. Some believe it is Fortunado saying this as final words for Fortunado. Others, among myself, believe that it is a Priest giving Montresseur his last words, yes, thats right, montresseur. Assuming Mont. is around the age of 20, 50 years later(when it was said that the bones were not touched for 50 years) he would be at a dying age. Montresseur may have been at his death bed, confessing the murder he commited 50 years ago, And that when he is done, he dies, and the Priest says "May he rest in Peace"

| Posted on 2007-11-08 | by a guest

.: i dont think :.

i dont think montressor felt bad for what he did or ever would.the 4th sentence of the last paragraph makes this clear when montressor tells us "my heart grew sick - on account of the dampness of the catacombs."at first you think you get a glimpse of his human side, but then you become aware that it was only the temperature of the catacombs.

| Posted on 2007-10-30 | by a guest

.: :.

While this story is filled with large words and mine perplexing events i believe the main point of the story is easily visible regardless of who reads it. One can see Montresor genuanly felt he had a reason to kill Furtanado which is what makes the story a classic Poe tale, dark and twisted. I loved Furtanado's attitude and smart comments he was able to think of even as he was being chained to a wall and buried in the reserve. The comments add to the irony of the story and give the reader a satisfaction knowing Montresesor will probably lead a troubled life. Revenge isn't always sweet

| Posted on 2007-10-29 | by a guest

.: story :.

This story is so hard to understand. I think that someone should translate the story into present day language so that kids reading it in school actually understand what they are reading. I am a high school student and in honors english we had to read this. It was so difficult and we had to have the teacher explain the whole story to us, and she was understanding. She even said that she had to read the story a few times to understand it. It was so difficult, in fact, that she didn't give us a quiz on this story as she did for all the other stories we had to read in class.

| Posted on 2007-09-27 | by a guest

.: great story. :.

i thought it was fantastic how Fortunato insulted Montresor by telling him he had forgetten his coat of arms. And after Montresor had explained it to him he told him the motto, "Nemo me impune lacessit". This translates to "No one attacks me without paying dearly." Yet even though after hearing the motton, Fortunato continues to be an arrogant fool and walk further down the catacombs.

| Posted on 2007-09-18 | by a guest

.: great story. :.

i thought it was fantastic how Fortunato insulted Montresor by telling him he had forgetten his coat of arms. And after Montresor had explained it to him he told him the motto, "Nemo me impune lacessit". This translates to "No one attacks me without paying dearly." Yet even though after hearing the motton, Fortunato continues to be an arrogant fool and walk further down the catacombs.

| Posted on 2007-09-18 | by a guest

.: :.

I think it's quite possible Poe means to represent the bad qualities of both Fortunato and Montresor as what actually kill them. I realize Montresor didnt die at the end, but he had obviously lived his life contemplating the murder, and he may have wished he was dead like Fortunato. Fortunato may have died because of his negative characteristics. Montresor asks him several times to leave the catacombs, but knows Fortunato will refuse because of his pride and arrogance. If he had not been so arrogant, regardless of what he may or may not have done to Montresor, would he have still died? And Montresor's comment at the end "rest in peace," is that sarcasm, or is that an honest wish? At the end I think Montresor was just as 'unfortunate' as Fortunato, because he also posessed pride, which is the reason he gives for killing him. In the end, both men had their lives ruined by their bad personality traits.

| Posted on 2007-03-15 | by a guest

.: Fortune resting in peace :.

Montresor was jelaous, and as we can read probably very young,so crazy ate the same time.
What about his echoing after plastering Fortunato with the wall.He still possesses some concience, but it wasn´t enough.He doesn´t belive in God, or not enough.

| Posted on 2007-03-12 | by a guest

.: many interpretations :.

In the story Montresor may or may not have had any actual reason to kill Fortunato. We are only seeing things by his point of view. As easily as it is to mistake a comment meaning nothing as being rude and hurtful you should all realize that. Montresor could be just crazy and jealous of Fortunato. It was funny that Futunato just kept on going deeper and deeper into the catacomb, but it had to do a lot with what Montresor was saying. He kept questioning how much of a man he was by telling him to turn back because he may get hurt from the nitre. Of course Fortunato was going to keep going not just to find the wine, but to prove himself a man. Ironically, his pride and his love for wine is what led him to his death. Another ironic thing about the story WAS when he said "I will not die of a cough" not because he was going to die of a cough (even though he probably did), but because after that Montresor says "True, true..." because he knows ultimately the reason why he is going to die is because he will trap him in there and leave him to die.

| Posted on 2007-02-19 | by a guest

.: His revenge :.

Although Montresso "vowed revenge" against Fortunato, and he did, he was still bothered by it fifty years later. So in a way Montresso didn't get the revenge he wanted, but in a way he did. At the end Montresso said,"In pace requiscat!" which is italian for "rest in peace". But only Fortunato rested in peace not Montresso.

| Posted on 2007-02-15 | by a guest

.: OMG :.

It states in the first sentence why Montresor killed Fortunato MalikiDragon! "when he ventured upon insult" does that mean nothing to you?? And irony is saying I'm not gonna die of a cough!!!! because he dies later in the catacombs!!!!!! DUHHHHHHHHHH

| Posted on 2007-02-06 | by a guest

.: Poe and Common THemes :.

This story is a typical Poe story. He has Typical themes of burried alive, Insanity and he often uses the power of suggestion. In this story i believe there is much irony in this story. It has lots of sarcastic irony. And Dramatical Irony, Fortunado belive montessor is a friend and a harmless person, A "Jest" but in reality Montessor is just insane, but give him credit. He was smart about getting revenge with Impunity.

Thanks for reading,
Tabbie 13, California

| Posted on 2007-01-31 | by a guest

.: what i think :.

i think that people are crazy about this story. Montressor got Fortnunato really drunk and then strapped him to a wall and then let him hang there and die. Fortunato made a smart comment to Montressor which ticked him off and thats what made Montressor take Fortunato to the catacombs and kill him.

| Posted on 2007-01-29 | by a guest

.: Fortunato's crime :.

So many people are confused by the fact that Montressor doesn't name Fortunato's crime. That's because probably nobody but Montressor believes he did anything wrong. Montressor tells himself certain things enough that he believes them himself, which is how he comes to think he has the right to punish Fortunato. Ever say something and then tell it to someone else differently? Eventually, you'll start thinking that your most recent version is the accurate story, even though you were there to hear it originally. In short, Fortunato was innocent, Montressor was mad enough to think he was guilty.

| Posted on 2007-01-10 | by a guest

.: All wrong :.

My God you're all wrong. Poe got the story from when he visited an old army base where a soilder was killed and burried in an underground room. there is no hidden meaning in the Masons. And the whole point of the story is that Montresor was mad (crazy) and Fortunato didn't do anything to him at all. He didn't act the least bit guilty and if he had truely done something to Montresor he would never have -drunk or not- gone down into his cattacombs.If you had payed attention you would know this even though it isn't that serious, it's just a story. Also, there is no irony in the saying "I will not die of a cough" because he didn't. He died because HE GOT WALLED UP IN A CATTACOMB(!) in case you didn't notice.

| Posted on 2006-02-05 | by MalikiDragon

.: :.

I have memorized this story and I found that when I told it and became Montressor, I understood the story a lot better. It's so funny to be telling all the verbal ironies and to be somewhat acting like Montressor. "I shall not die of a cough!"

The entire story is a lie. Montressor is using reverse pscychology and playing off of Fortunato's pride to get Fortunato to do every single thing that he wants. This guy's brilliant!

I never really understood exactly why Montressor wanted revenge, except for that he had been insulted. Isn't it interesting that he thinks that he has the right to punish Fortunato?

| Posted on 2006-02-02 | by Approved Guest