Short Story Review: The Cask of Amontillado

 The Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allan Poe

Edgar Allan Poe is famous for his Gothic Literature (Taschner & Morgan). Every story that he writes will contain the elements of mystery, supernatural, and he also includes eerie and horrifying events (n.d.). By reading his story we can explore and invades the evil of human mind. In his writings, he reveals the human action; that not all human being embrace good virtues in their life. Indeed, in the short story entitled The Cask of Amontillado, Poe portrays these features to make an enthralling storyline in order to seize the readers’ attention.

The story is narrated by the Motresor’s point of view or also known as the first point of view. By using this technique of narration, the readers know the feelings, thoughts, and opinions of the character. For instance, Montresor expresses his hatred towards Fortunato. Apart from that, the readers also can invade the thoughts of the main character; Montresor, when he is plotting to murder his friend, Fortunato.

The story begins with this excerpt; “Fortunato had hurt me a thousand times and I had suffered quietly.” To me, it is an ambiguous declaration by the main character. This is because he never mentions what kind of torment that he has endured before he decides to avenge. However, later, he learns that his friend, Fortunato makes jokes about his noble family’s name.   

            From my reading, revenge is the central theme of the story. It can be seen from the beginning of the story where Montresor announces his detestation towards Fortunato. 

“I promised myself that I would make him pay for this — that I would have revenge.”

Since he pronounces his vengeance, he starts to plan his modus operandi by using Fortunato’s great weakness which is the fond of wine. He, Fortunato knows a lot about the wine and whenever he hears about the fine wine he wants to taste it. And Amontillado, according to the characters, is an old wine and it has a wonderful taste. There is no doubt, by using one of his weaknesses; Montresor manages to kill Fortunato in a dark underground.

            The story ends with a horrifying event (Sova) where Fortunado pleads to Montresor to save his life. Nevertheless, Montresor keeps piling up the bones and stones to build a wall to bury a hole where Fortunato’s body stands and he is terrified with the action done by Montresor.

Moreover, the story contains the element of irony, puns, and jokes (Taschner & Morgan). For instance, the name of the character named Fortunado has the element of irony where his name in Italian means lucky. However, when I read throughout the story, there are no fortunate events that occur to the character. In fact, the character is tragically killed by his acquaintance. Furthermore, joke happens in the story where Fortunado does not aware that he is about to be killed and he says: “I shall not die of a cough” and Montresor replies with a dishonest answer; True-true. Additionally, the pun in the story happens when Montresor says: “Come! Let us go back before it is too late.” It is not his real intention because he already plans the murder. He says that just to show he fakes out his concerned towards his friend’s health.

Last but not least, in many pieces of Gothic literature, the setting is always in a dark place in order to illustrate the mystic features in the story. In The Cask of Amontillado, the setting is in the vaults; located down under the ground of his palace. It is also storage compartment to keep the wine and also a burial chamber of his proud family. And deep down the palace, the air is cold, the surrounding and the vaults is connected to river’s bed. Here, Montresor can easily kill his friend because there is no one knows and hears if Fortunado shouts for help.

            In a nutshell, to me, the storyline is very short and simple where it can be easily understood. Without any doubt, the story offers a thrilling yet an easy plot and it can grab the attention the young readers to read the story. Additionally, the stories written by Poe are surreal that readers can experience the goose bumps feeling while reading his writings. However, from my reading, the simple storyline does not provide challenges to readers because they can guess what will happen to the character soon.