In Edgar Allan Poe's short story, The Cask of Amontillado, the narrator and one of the main characters, Montresor, lives by this motto. Without ever really explaining to the audience what Fortunato did to him, we learn very early in the story that he is looking for revenge. And throughout the story Montresor's attributes resemble that of a lunatic, a madman, and a manipulator; although he shows a bit of intelligence and wit. For he takes a man in high power, Fortunato, and seizes him to the lowest vaults of Scotland to avenge himself. At one point of the story it seems as if Montresor is contemplative about what he is doing and that's what makes this story so heartrending. But in the end death is thee only way Montresor sees fit to free himself of humiliation and the defacement that had doubtably occurred. A lesson taught, "No one dare attack me with impunity" because in Montresor's eyes death is the final consequence.
It is clear that Poe wanted the audience to favor with Montresor. This was the reasoning for the deeper look into Montresor's head and not Fortunato's. The audience may have felt more sympathectic towards Fortunato if they were not only able to know they story of what happened between the two but Fortunato's outlook on it. Some may feel like Montresor was right in what he was doing because pride is one of the roots of evil, but others may see Montresor as a malevolent person. His M.O was he was insulted. But does that give him the right to kill another human being? I guess to Montresor it was the equivalent. If Fortuanto were able to tell his side, the story may then be that of a whole different one, but this is what the audience is left with. "In pace requiescat!"
