Edgar Allan Poe

Ensayoxx

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Edgar Allan Poe was one of the greatest American writers in history. He was famous because of his unique style that involved thriller, suspense and horror. Poe was inspired by the European carnival season when writing his short-story The Cask of Amontillado. The story was published in the month of November of 1846 by Godey's Lady's Book, the most important periodical in America by the time. Because of the fact that it was Poe's last short story published it soon reached its fame and success. It takes place in the catacombs of an Italian city during the carnival period and there are several topics that are discussed and represented such as: drugs and alcohol, betrayal, mortality and irony.

The first topic presented in the story is betrayal. Even from the very beginning the reader notes it because of the following quote from Montresor (the protagonist) " The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult I vowed revenge". This gives us a hint to think that something happened between both characters before and it can be even considered as a foreshadow of possible situations between them. Also the word “ventured” means literary “to undertake an action with knowledge that there is a risk involved” this suggests that Montresor thinks that Fortunato knew what he was risking upon insulting him. Montresor, in his own thoughts, accuses Fortunato and finds him guilty of insulting him. He states that he should be punished for what he has done by the following quotes: “A wrong undressed when retribution overtakes its redresser” and “It is equally undressed when the avenger fails to make himself felt as such to him who has done the wrong”.

Betrayal is committed by Fortunato not only against Montresor but also to himself. He committed this by not being aware of his sorroundings. Montresor went to Fortunato suposely to confirm a wine’s authenticy with which he had a doubt and he accepted. Afterwards Montresor took him to the deep catacombs of the city and Fortunato did not even questioned why and knowing that Montresor offered him to return to the city more than once, he is guilty of commiting betrayal against himself. The use of wine during the path to the catacombs does not justify Fortunato’s foolishness, it is a topic with enough merit for disscussion.

Drugs and alcohol is a topic discussed as a daily manner thing in the short-story. At the beginning the description of the carnival stated that there was plenty of wine and alcoholic beverages in the enviroment, this is complemented with Fortunato’s addiction to wine (which in fact is the most mentioned beverage in the story). He claims to be an expert in this type of beverage as apretiated in the following quote: “How?” said he. “Amontillado? A pipe? Impossible! And in the middle of the carnival!”. It is unclear why he claims it to be so impossible but it can be infered that he mostly says this to convince Montresor that his wine expertise is needed to confirm whether the wine is authentic or not. He also shows to be interested in this wine issue because if he was not, he probably would not have gone with Montresor “...but in the matter of old wines he was sincere. In this respect I did not differ from him materially: I was skillful in the Italian vintages myself...”.

There is a very particular drug in the short-story besides alcohol; Pride! Fortunato’s pride is his drinking and althought he knows this well, Montresor controls his drinking. Just like a drug his own excessive pride helps his life to take the path of death and this very thing is yet another topic of this rich story.

Death and mortality, often represented by symbolical objects, are present in the story by dark humor used form part of Poe to animate a little bit the story. Montresor often jokes about death and almost makes it seem funny until the end “I shall not die of a cough.” “True – true,” I replied”. The symbolical objects of death and mortality in the story are the abundant corpses and dead