The Cask of Amontillado Edgar Allan PoeSummary = Montresor doesn't like Fortunato on account of the thousands of injuries he has caused,injuries that he bears magnanimously (yes, that's sarcasm), but when Fortunato resorts to insult,Montresor vows revenge, a revenge which excludes punishment and a revenge which makes Fortunatocompletely aware of who's getting the revenge.It's Carnival in Italy and good wine is at a premium. Montresor uses stratagem to lure Fortunato into hisunderground vaults to exact his revenge. Fortunato, ever so happy to display his wine wisdom, agrees toaccompany Montresor into the catacombs to test the wine, hoping to expose Montresor as a fool, ironicconsidering Fortunato's wearing the fool's costume.There are two things that allow Montresor's plan to succeed: (1) Fortunato is extremely drunk; (2)Montresor is a master of reverse psychology and irony. Numerous times, he cautions Fortunato about hiscough and declares his wish to go to Luchesi--whom we know little of other than Fortunato thinks he'san "ignoramus." This mention of Fortunato's rival makes him all the more eager to prove Montresor'simbecility in buying Amontillado from a huckster.The two proceed down the ancient corridor when, suddenly, Montresor chains Fortunato to a wall,where he has remained ever since.Analysis1.The Unreliable Narrator - Any analysis of "The Cask of Amontillado" must take into account thestory's point of view. Everything we know is filtered through the demoniacal brain of Montresor.
