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Hoang Nguyen ENC 1102 Essay #1 Montresor s character in A The Cask of Amontillado A The Cask of Amontillado is a short story which involves a murdering plan organized by Montresor against Fortunato, known as Montresors friend and firstly considered as a bad person who might have done something wrong to Montresor. At the beginning of the story, Edgar Allan Poe, the author, leads readers to Montresors avenging: The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could (127). However, after reading over the story, the readers can easily realize that there are no specific reasons of for Montresors revenge. In contrast, he turns out a cold-blood murderer with logical plan, manipulative actions, and a cruel mind. Having a vow of vengeance, I must not only punish but punish with impunity (127), Montresor prepares a rational plan with pitfalls in order to murder Fortunato in his vault. First, Montresor orders his attendants to leave the house: I had told them that I should not return until morning and had given them explicit orders not to stir from the house (128), so he can take revenge on Fortunato without being detected. Next, Montresor entices his enemy into going to the vault by mentioning his doubt of Amontillado, a wine which he has just received, in on a carnival evening. It is a perfect time to avoiding peoples attention because everybody has been drinking and dresses

in various costumes. Going to the vault for consulting his friend, Montresor, about the pipe of Amontillado, Fortunato does not know that he is going to be buried alive by Montresor in a crypt. The route in searching for Amontillado is prepared in detail by Montresor. In the crypt, when Fortunato is not able to stand by himself, Montresor tries to help him walk: and again offer him my arm we continued our route in search of Amontillado (129) in order to easily take him to the crypt where he plans to bury Fortunato alive. Fortunato step by step falls into a trap set by his friend, Montresor, who has been luring him to the death with manipulative gestureactions. Montresor is crafty in character, so his victim, Fortunado, is gradually caught in the trap without any realization. Montresor understands none better than him Fortunatos vulnerable points clearly; therefore, he mentions Amontillado to Fortunato, a wine connoisseur, in order to convince him to go to the vault. Furthermore, Montresor refers to Lurchresi, as you are engaged, I am on my way to Luchresi. If anyone has a critical turn it is he. He will tell me (127) and it provokes Fortunatos reaction, Luchresi cannot tell Amontillado from Sherrycome let us go. . This way, Fortunato cannot refuse to come to the catacomb where will be his grave. Although Montresor knows that Fortunatdo has been drinking in the carnival, he gives Fortunato liquid courage to keep his enemy drunk while they are being in the crypt. When realizing that Fortunato has a cough, Montresor keeps asking Fortunato to come back from the catacomb; he insists to Fortunato, we will go back; your health is precious. You are rich, respected, beloved (128). Montresor

does not do that because of his guilty conscience; oppositely, he wants Fortunato to continue going to on the dead route drawn in detail before. The more Montresor asks Fortunato to come back, the more Fortunato determines to go through the catacombs. Montresor pretends to worry about Fortunatos health; yet, he is actually killing his enemy by dampness, coldness of the catacomb, alcohol, and crafty behavior. Step by step, Montresor reveals that he is a ruthless, brutal avenger with an insane mind. Enthusiastically, Fortunato tries to help Montresor consult the cask of Amontillado; in contrast, Montresor reciprocates Fortunatos kindness with a vengeful plan I vowed revenge I must not only punish but punish with impunity (127). He perceives himself as a victim suffering insult caused by Fortunato; however, justification for his revenge is very vague. Therefore, motivation of Montresor is only comes from his insanity or hostility. The way that Montresor kills Fortunato is exactly like an act of a heartless killer. While seeing Fortunato reaching the extremity of the niche and getting stuck in it, Montresor instantly overpowers Fortunato and buries him alive I had fettered him to the granite I began vigorously wall up the entrance of the niche (130), there remained but a single stone to be fitted and plastered itI thrust a torch through the remaining aperture and let it fall within (131). Montresor is successful to in revenge ing himself on Fortunato; yet, there is only a wicked, barbarous, vengeful person who can burn bury his or her helper to deathalive. By his ironic writing style, Edgar Allan Poe creates an interesting story

with many astonishments and satirical laughter. The story starts with the thousand of injuries of Fortunato (139) and ends with his awful death. which Death would conceal forever: for the half of a century no mortal has disturbed them (131). DThe death is a result of a perfect murdering plan which was done by Montresor, a cold blood, wicked, and artful killer.