Irony and symbolism are tools used in writing to convey individual messages throughout the story. It is Edgar Allan Poe’s intense use of symbolism and irony throughout the Cask of Amontillado that gives this short story its suspense and horror filled theme. The Cask of Amontillado is a horror short story, which revolves around the themes of revenge and pride. The plot involves two men: Montresor, the narrator, who is an Italian aristocrat seeking revenge against the second main character: Fortunato, a proud man that flaunts about his knowledge of wines and who finally walks into his own death.
Irony is defined as words or actions that convey a reality different from appearance or expectation. The use of such device in the story gives it humor and wit. The continuous use of irony is detected through style, tone and the use of exaggeration from Montresor, the narrator. From the start we can blatantly see the irony in the story. The name Fortunato implies that this man is of good luck, when in actuality he was about to face the end of his life. The setting itself in which the story takes place also contains an ironic element. It is during Venice’s Carnival that the characters meet.
Carnival is supposed to be a time of celebration and happiness for everybody. However, in the tale it is a time for revenge and death. The mood changes drastically when the two characters leave the carnival for the desolate catacombs beneath Montresor’s palazzo. We learn from the narrator that when he first meets Fortunato the latter has apparently been drinking and is dressed in many colors, resembling a jester. His costume suggests that he will be the one playing the fool. On the other hand Montresor is dressed in a black-colored cloak and has his face covered with a black mask.
At this point in the story you can detect the black mask and outfit could be seen as a representation of death or evil. This gives some foreshadowing into the events taking place later that night in the damp catacombs. When the characters meet, Montresor realizes that Fortunato is afflicted with a severe cold, nevertheless he makes a point of him looking remarkably well. Montresor acts in the most natural and friendly way towards the man object of his revenge, and even praises his friend’s knowledge in the subject of wines. Also upon their meeting, Montresor begins a psychological manipulation of Fortunato.
He claims for his own knowledge that he needs to know if the purchase he made was actually Amontillado. Furthermore, he acknowledges that Fortunato is engaged in another business so he would go to Luchresi, who is a competitor of Fortunato’s. Fortunato is forced by his pride to accompany Montresor to the vaults, to dissipate his doubts and also to prove his status to Luchresi as a connoisseur of wine. On their way under the catacombs, Montresor offers Fortunato a chance to go back; knowing that is pride would not allow him to retreat. Fortunato then continues his journey on his own will. “The vaults are insufferably damp.
They are encrusted with nitre. ” “Let us go, nevertheless. The cold is merely nothing. Amontillado! ” ( P. 71) Irony is also seen with Montresor as a “Mason”. We anticipate this means he is a member of the distinguished group of men, when he actually is a stonemason. Montresor makes use of his skill as a mason as well as of the trowel he had shown his rival to build up the wall that will lock up unfortunate Fortunato inside the niche. When Fortunato is trapped behind the wall his avenger built, Montresor re-echoes and even overwhelms Fortunato’s screams apparently to sarcastically sympathize with the victim.
He is evidently being ironic since he is actually delighted by what he has done and only stops shrieking till Fortunato is silent. The story ends with Montresor’s words “In pace requiescat! ” (May he rest in peace). The story also contains many accounts of symbolism. It is only after several readings that the symbols begin to be clear. The first example in the story was mentioned earlier, the fact that Montresor’s costume is black would suggest beforehand that he would be playing the role of an evil being. More symbolism is utilized in the vaults at the end of the catacombs piled with skeletons.
Skeletons usually imply a sense of death, and the absence of light and the dank murkiness that surrounds the characters are images that aid for a perfect setting of horror and gives the reader a sensation of an impending doom. The title of the story: “The Cask of Amontillado” represents the imminent ruin of Fortunato: his pursue of the cask which, in the end, will turn out to be his own casket. The Cask of Amontillado is a carefully crafted short story. Every trait of irony and symbolism Poe uses contributes to a single and meaningful effect: Conveying his message in a creative and original manner, not allowing the reader to stop.
