Free Essay Edgar Allen Poe Short Story; "Cask of Amontillado"

wayne_brady · Uploaded by **wayne_brady** on Jun 11, 2006

Edgar Allen Poe Short Story; "Cask of Amontillado"

Humans are very complicated. For many years, human beings have been trying to figure out how the body works physically and mentally. Researches led to many discoveries in the human physical body, but the human mind is still relatively mysterious. Whenever a person does not follow the society�s guidelines, he or she, often enough, is considered mentally ill. In Edgar Allan Poe�s short story �The Cask of Amontillado�, the highly descriptive imageries demonstrate how Montresor�s preoccupation with pride can easily lead to madness. In addition, with the aid of precise information, the author demonstrates how Montresor can embody human nature and through this character suggests that every human can be driven by madness if constantly obsessing over pride.

Montresor�s maniacal actions as well as the symbolic catacombs confirm the presence of madness. Just as the story begins, Montresor �vow[s] revenge� (Poe 866) upon his friend, Fortunado, as he has only insulted him. As Montresor is convinced to take revenge upon his friend, this very first sentence shows clearly how madness overpowers him. Montresor then sacrifices the latter for the sake of his reputation, which he believes has been destroyed by Fortunado. Going to such extend as killing his own friend for a couple of offensive words is, without a doubt, a sign of madness within Montresor. Furthermore, as Fortunado approaches death, his cries and mercies are �reechoed, �aided, �surpassed�in volume and in strength� (Poe 870) by the only person that could possibly save him. Echoing Fortunado�s yells reflects Montresor�s satisfactions as well as his devilish pleasures brought during his friend�s torture. In addition, �the most recesses of the catacombs� (Poe 868) described as Montresor guides his victim to his own death by creating a false sense of security symbolize Montresor�s dark soul where deep down, madness overcomes him and causes his friend�s murder. Montresor, in Poe�s short story, is clearly a victim of his own madness which overpowers him and makes him do horrific things without being really conscious of their consequences.

By means of specific details, Montresor is linked to humanity and, therefore, represents the latter. Montresor directly says, "You, who so well know the nature of my soul�" (Poe 866), in order to open up to the reader as if he or she can understand him or personally relate to him. Therefore, this identification to the main character suggests that the latter can embody all those who are illegible to read this short story. In addition, the fact that Montresor�s first name remains unknown throughout the story suggests his lack of precise identity, therefore insinuating that his madness is applicable to anyone. Montresor is not only the main character of Poe�s short story but he is also a tool that broadens the story�s theme, making madness a valid characteristic for every human.

By linking humanity with Montresor, Poe subtly conveys his notion that madness, caused by man�s preoccupation with pride, lies within human nature. The Montresor family�s motto �Nemo me impune lacessit� (Poe 868) was passed down from generation to generation and suggests that pride is very important within the whole family thus within humanity in general. Since Montresor�s preoccupation with pride is so intense, he lets his madness overcome him and take control of him. Similarly, Poe suggests that human beings are all born with a certain pride which can easily lead to madness, an extreme outcome of pride. In fact through Montresor, Poe theorizes that man is naturally mad but since society forbids doing certain things, s/he must act within precise bounds in order to live in a civilized manner. Moreover, Montresor demonstrates Poe�s hypothesis when he �smile[s] in [Fortunado�s] face, and [as the latter does] not perceive that [his] smile now [is] at the thought of his immolation� (Poe 866). In Poe�s short story, Montresor represents humanity in order to demonstrate how humans are all mad because they instinctively seek revenge.

Poe tells his story from Montresor�s point of view to concretely illustrate a person�s lack of self-control provoked by a strong feeling of madness caused by the constant obsession with pride. Furthermore, by means of descriptions, Poe helps the reader enter Montresor�s mind to make s/he realize that, in fact, s/he can possibly be characterized by him.