Foolishness in “The Cask of Amontillado”

Introduction

The Cask of Amontillado is one of the masterpiece stories composed by Edgar Allan Poe. It was composed and published in 1846. The story recounts the murder committed by a man named Montresor, who wanted revenge on Fortunato, a man who had insulted him several times and did not want to endure another insult. The assassination was planned for a long time by Montresor and is performed in the carnival. Fortunato, the victim was dressed as a clown when he meets Montresor, and he says as if he wants to know of a barrel of amontillado that is being sold is real. Montresor misleads Fortunato through some catacombs by making him drunk, as a result of which the humidity of the catacombs make Fortunato's health apparently worse and worse as he gets a cough. Montresor chained Fortunato to a wall to him put dying. Fortunato moans and could not ever leave the catacombs (Bales, Pp. 51).

Discussion

Poe has developed theme of foolishness in the character of Fortunato. The literal meaning of Fortunato in Italic means 'the fortunate one' and in this story Poe has characterized Fortunato as the most unfortunate one. Thus Poe has showed irony in presenting the dreadful demise of a character by naming it as Fortunato meaning 'the fortunate one'. The story takes place during a carnival where Fortunato is inanely dressed as a jester and eager to taste Amontillado that is a Spanish vine. Montresor enticed Fortunato by appearing in a unrevealing costume by wearing a black silk mask. He charms Fortunato by making him eager to taste a vine that outperforms Amontillado in taste. Poe presents humor and foolishness of Fortunato together when Montresor challenges Fortunato that he can make another man taste that vine. Fortunate in his foolishness gets tempted to taste that vine and takes this as a challenge as he says that third person Luchesi would be unable to successfully taste and distinguish between a fine Spanish vine from the rest of the vines (Rocks, Pp. 50-51).

Fortunate appears confident by accepting this challenge and turning down Luchesi. Montresor takes Fortunato to the damp vaults that are covered with saltpeter, niter and other minerals that make Fortunato cough. Poe shows extent of foolishness of Fortunato and how this costed him losing his life when Fortunato said that I would not die of cough and Montresor replied affirmatively saying True. Fortunate in his foolishness was unable to identify cruel motives of Montresor when he replied affirmatively. In these events Poe has tried to highlight jester qualities in the character of Fortunato that failed him to assess actions of people with him and acquiescing with their acts. The ignorance of Fortunato made him loose his life with a dreadful ending.

Poe creates thrill and suspense when during their journey to the deep vaults Fortunato makes a hand movement expressing him as being member of the Masons community. Montresor is unable to identify that movement and he shows trowel as evidence of Montresor being ...