The Cask of Amontillado – Edgar Allan Poe

Just like The Raven, The Cask of Amontillado is a gothic-style short story written by Edgar Allan Poe that was first published in 1846. The story is about a man named Montresor who plots to murder his friend, Fortunato, over a perceived insult. The story takes place in an unknown Italian city during carnival time. Download a free copy of The Cask Of Amontillado PDF by clicking the button down below.

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The Cask Of Amontillado Q&A

What Is Amontillado In The Cask Of Amontillado?

Amontillado is an alcoholic drink that is a type of dry sherry.

Amontillado is a unique wine produced from the complete fermentation of palomino grape must. The fruit of the fusion of two different types of ageing processes (both biological and oxidative), Amontillado is resultingly an extraordinarily complex and interesting sherry.

Jerez-Xérès-Sherry | Amontillado – The Wine Of The Knowledgeable

Is The Cask Of Amontillado a True Story?

Fortunately, The Cask Of Amontillado is not a true story! It is however based on a story That Edgar Allan Poe heard while he was in the army in 1827. According to the story, a man by the name of Lieutenant Gustavus Drane killed a fellow lieutenant in a sword duel after a card game. The other soldiers took revenge by getting Lieutenant Drane drunk and luring him to a dungeon where they chained him to a wall and then sealed him inside the vault. However, this story isn’t true either. Lieutenant Drake was court-martialed and subsequently acquitted and it is said that he lived until 1846.

What Does The Cask Symbolize In The Cask of Amontillado?

A cask is a very big container that is shaped like a barrel. It is usually made from wood but can also be made out of plastic or metal. It is used to most commonly store alcoholic beverages. The word casket is very close to cask so it could be said Poe used the word cask to symbolize Forutunata’s casket.

Why Is Fortunato’s Name Ironic?

Fortunato’s name is very ironic because the name itself makes the reader think that Fortunato is fortunate. In fact, when Montesero flatters Fortunato he calls him rich, respected, admired, beloved and happy building on the theme that he is fortunate. However, we soon see that Fortunato is everything but fortunate when Montesero buries him alive.

What Does Montresor’s Costume Symbolize?

In Poe’s story, we are told that Montresor is wearing a mask made out of black silk and a roquelaure. A roquelaure is a dark cloak that is about knee-length that was commonly worn during the 18th and 19th centuries. Montresor’s costume is dark and foreboding and it could be said that he looked very much like the grim reaper.

In contrast, Fortunato is dressed like a jester which shows his jovial, happy-go-lucky nature. Of course, he is also incredibly drunk in the story so the costume is also a physical representation of that.

What Does In Pace Requiescat mean?

In Pace Requiescat is a Latin blessing which means may he begin to rest in peace. It was commonly used in the Roman Catholic church.

The Cask Of Amontillado Short Movie

What Is The Summary Of The Cask of Amontillado?

The Cask of Amontillado is a rather morbid Edgar Allan Poe short story that introduces us to the narrator who we eventually learn is Montresor. Montresor begins the story by letting us know that his friend, Fortunato hasn’t been good to him, and worst of all, has insulted him!

The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult, I vowed revenge.

The Cask Of Amontillado | Edgar Allan Poe

It is carnival time and Montresor meets Fortunato in the city. Fortunato is dressed up like a jester and he is already very drunk when they meet. Knowing that Fortunato considers himself a bit of a wine connoisseur, Montresor tells Fortunato that he has managed to get hold of a rare vintage amontillado which he would like him to taste to verify how authentic it is.

Montresor lures Fortunato into the Montresor family catacombs getting him more and more drunk as they go. Fortunato begins coughing from the dust and the dampness in the cryptic and Montresor suggests that they go back, flattering poor Fortunato with underhanded compliments. Fortunato however insists that they continue to the Amontillado.

Come,” I said, with decision, “we will go back; your health is precious. You are rich, respected, admired, beloved; you are happy, as once I was. You are a man to be missed. For me it is no matter. We will go back; you will be ill, and I cannot be responsible. Besides, there is Luchesi—”

“Enough,” he said; “the cough is a mere nothing; it will not kill me. I shall not die of a cough.”

The Cask of Amontillado | Edgar Allan Poe

The two continue deeper into the catacombs where we discover that there are many catacombs where deceased relatives of Montresor are buried. Eventually, they come to a small crypt or niche and Montresor leads Fortunato inside. By this time he is incredibly drunk. Montresor quickly chains Fortunato to a wall but because Fortunato is so drunk he doesn’t realize what is happening. Montresor begins to wall up the crypt. Fortunato quickly sobers up and begins to shake the chains. At first, he thinks that he is the victim of a rather cruel joke.

“Ha! ha! ha!—he! he! he!—a very good joke indeed—an excellent jest. We shall have many a rich laugh about it at the palazzo—he! he! he!—over our wine—he! he! he!”

The Cask of Amontillado | Edgar Allan Poe

The story ends with Montresor filling in the last of the stones into the wall. He calls Fortunato one final time before doing so but there is no answer. Montresor then tells us that no one has disturbed the tomb for over 50 years.

Other Edgar Allan Poe PDF Short Stories

If you enjoy The Cask Of Amontillado, then don’t forget to check out some of Edgar Allan Poe’s darker short stories in PDF format:

• The Tell-Tale Heart
• The Fall Of The House Of Usher
• The Black Cat

Conclusion

The Cask of Amontillado is a story of deception, revenge, and ultimately murder. It is a rather dark tale that Edgar Allan Poe wrote in 1846. Download a free copy of The Cask of Amontillado PDF here.