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!"
I agree that by making Montresor the sole narrator of the story, Poe sort of forced us to side with him. Because Montresor perceives everything he does was necessary, we as readers really just have to go along with it, since he was the only one telling the story. By making Montresor the narrator, Poe also gives him an air of authority- only Montresor had the power to tell the story. In this sense, Montresor wasn't just a lunatic, a madman, and a manipulator; he's also power-hungry and has great need to establish his authority. To me, by making Montresor narrate his whole crime, is another way to show that he's empowered by being able to control what is being told and what wasn't.
ReplyDeleteNice job
P.S. I was thinking that the story took place in Italy rather than in Scotland, but I guess it doesn't really say.
Your blog was very insightful to the interiority of the Montresor. It seems as if Montresor is taking out all of his feelings on Fortunato, even though these feeling might have nothing to do with him. Just as you and Myra stated about Montresor being the only speaker in the poem, I feel that this gives him the control that he seeks. He is in control of the story and of Fortunado's life. I think Poe wants us to know this much about the Montrsor because the story is about him and his interiority. Although it is not quite clear why he does what he does, we are able to see his character and thus analyze him more.
ReplyDelete