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Essay on Compare & Contrast The Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allan Poe And Storyteller by Leslie Marmon Silko
The Cask of Amontillado
by Edgar Allan Poe
"The Cask of Amontillado" is a horror short story by Edgar Allan Poe, published in 1846. It is set in 19th century Italy and concerns the lethal revenge taken by the narrator on a friend he claims has constantly insulted him.
"The Cask of Amontillado" is a story of revenge, but the reader is never told exactly what Fortunato did to warrant such vengeance. In fact, throughout the story, the reader gradually realizes that Montresor is an unreliable narrator; that whatever insult Montresor believes Fortunato committed is probably imagined or exaggerated. It's certain that Fortunato has no idea of Montresor's anger, and this makes the story even more tragic and frightening. The story horrifies the reader both through its plot and, more importantly, the character of Montresor.
Despite Montresor's use of the word "immolation" early on to describe his plan for Fortunato, the reader assumes due to his refined language, respect for Fortunato's knowledge of wine and social status that his revenge will take the form of some elaborate, if cruel, practical joke. When it becomes clear that he intends to actually not only kill Fortunato but inflict a horrible death upon him, it comes as a shock.
Montresor himself may qualify as a sociopath: he shows no signs of remorse for his actions and is extremely manipulative. He may be considered an unreliable narrator for that reason. Since we never learn what his grudges were, and Fortunato as we see him does not seem like the kind of person capable of giving such offense, it is possible that they are purely imaginary.
Since Montresor's telling of the story offers no distance for the reader from his single minded yet calculating devotion to his homicidal intentions, it compounds the horror.........
