The Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allan Poe, (Some Notes)
The author of this story was a man named Edger Allan Poe. He liked to write short stories that were of the genre horror and mystery. He wrote stories between 1846 and 1850.
The main theme of this story is revenge. The main character, Montresor, had vowed to take revenge on another man named Fortunato who had wronged him. Even though he gained nothing from it, Montresor still decided to murder Fortunato purely because he wanted revenge.
The foreshadowing can be found in the title “The Cask of Amontillado.” Cask can both mean a container for drinks or a coffin.
The mood of the story is gloomy, dark, and mysterious. The setting of this story, the catacombs in a town in Italy, provide us with a sense of darkness and mystery.
The irony in this story is dramatic. The reader knows that Montresor would kill Fortunato, even though the victim did not know that death was imminent. Furthermore, it was ironic that the victim of this crime was named Fortunato, which meant lucky. During the night of this evil deed, a carnival was taking place, the carnival being a symbol of peace and joy. This contrasts with what was occurring underneath in the dank catacombs below.
The point of view in this story is first person. The person who tells the story is Montresor.
