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The Cask of Amontillado

By: Edgar Allan Poe

What is revenge?  It is made clear from the beginning that Montresor has a strong intent to have revenge on the wealthy and prosperous Fortunado.  It becomes obvious that he does not intend to kill Fortunado but rather to make him suffer when he says, “I continued, as was my wont, to smile in his face, and he did not perceive that my smile now was at the thought of his immolation.”  Montresor planned to sacrifice Fortunado, implying that it would be slow, hard and painful.  He thought that Fortunado’s slow death would be revenge for the many “injuries” he received from Fortunado.  Montresor is aware of Fortunado’s habit of drinking alcohol to excess and decides to use it against him ultimately resulting in Fortunado’s downfall.  However, his plans do not turn out exactly has he had hoped.  Once Montresor shackles Fortunado in the dark, wet cellars he begins to fill up the whole in the wall to conceal where Fortunado is being held.  All the while, he is feeling increasingly guilty with each rattling of the chains holding the Fortunado.  When he is placing the last stone, he hears a voice form within the chamber that does not resemble that of the noble Fortunado, though it must be him for the chamber has no other way out.  Fortunado wants Montresor to believe that he thinks Montresor’s  “prank” is childish and just a joke.  Fortunado then goes on to say, “For the love of God, Montresor!”  Montresor replies, “yes, for the love of God!”  This exchange between the characters demonstrates Montresor’s lack of mercy for the Fortunado.  However, Montresor does say, “My heart grew sick–on account of the dampness of the catacombs.”  In reality, Montresor is sickened by his own actions in entombing Fortunado alive.

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