Ironies In The Cast Of Amontillado Essay

, Research Paper

Ironies Found in .The Cask of Amontillado.

In the short story .The Cask of Amontillado,. Edgar Allan Poe writes in the first person point of view from the perspective of Montresor, the diabolic narrator of this tale, who vowed revenge against Fortunato. Montresor began to develop the perfect plan for retribution. During the carnival season, Montresor encounters Fortunato and decides to implement his plan carefully not to arouse Fortunato.s suspicions through irony. Poe uses different types of irony throughout the story. The three different types of irony that he uses are dramatic, verbal, and situational irony.

Dramatic irony is when the reader perceives something that a character in the story does not. This occurs when reader becomes painfully aware of what will become of Fortunato even though the character continues his descent into the catacombs in pursuit of the Amontillado. Poe further adds to this effect by calling the character Fortunato, who is anything but fortunate, and dressing him in a clown or fool.s costume since Montresor intends to make a fool of him as part of his dark plan. Through the ironic naming of the characters, Poe gives visual images to the readers. The naming of Fortunato, which is ironic since he is anything but fortunate, suggests a lucky or fortunate person (Womack 5). He is given the name .Fortunato. though to make him appear as a .fool. (Womack 4). Montresor says that .Fortunato, like his countrymen, was a quack. (Lowell 214). Montresor.s name being associated with .treasure. gives the reader an image of a rich and powerful man (Gruesser 129). The reader becomes aware of Montresor.s plan when he informs us that he is going to continue to smile in Fortunato.s face while using Fortunato.s pride in his wine to lure him into the catacombs to taste some of his imaginary Amontillado. This whole scene is ironic because Fortunato is being interpreted as a fool in his costume while Montresor is giving him wine and leading him to his death. On the other hand, Montresor seems so innocent as to what he plans to do. Another example of Poe.s dramatic irony occurs as the two men are walking down to the catacombs and Fortunato notices the Montresor coat of arms. Fortunato says, .I forget your arms.. And Montresor replies, .A huge human foot d.or, in a field azure; the foot crushes a serpent rampant whose fangs are imbedded in the heel. (Poe 1569). Peeples quotes, .The Montresor family could be represented by the foot, which crushes its enemies, or the snake, which sinks its fangs into the heel of its adversary, by bringing to mind the flag used by the American Revolutionaries reading .Don.t tread on me.. In either case, both the foot and the snake are injured, perhaps fatally; neither wins. (150). What is so ironic about this is that Montresor thinks that he wins by getting rid of his enemy when really he is not a winner at all.

Throughout the story, Montresor uses verbal irony numerous times to foreshadow his intentions to the audience. One use of this verbal irony is in Montresor.s concern for Fortunato.s health. Montresor tells Fortunato that his health is precious and that they should turn back so Fortunato does not become ill (Poe 1569). Fortunato responds saying, .The cough is a mere nothing; it will not kill me. (1569). Montresor knowing how Fortunato will die responds, .True-True. (1569). In fact, Montresor could care less about Fortunato.s health; he is just concerned about his own advantage of manipulation by luring him into the catacombs to carry out his plan. Montresor also intends to be responsible for Fortunato.s death. Montresor does not want Fortunato to die of a cough or from the catacombs but of his own destruction. The drunken Fortunato is the only one in the story who is unaware of Montresor.s real motives. Secondly Poe uses verbal irony in Montresor.s toast to Fortunato.s long life. Montresor says, .Drink. . .. (1569). The Fortunato says, .I drink. . . to the buried that repose around us. (1569). Then again, Montresor says, .And I to your long life. (1569). Montresor, however, does not intend for Fortunato to live for very long at all. On the contrary, Montresor is toasting because he wants Fortunato to accompany his ancestors in the catacombs. Furthermore, Montresor addresses Fortunato as his dear friend when they first encounter each other. Fortunato believes that Montresor is his friend when actually he intends to make a fool out of him. Thus, Montresor states, .My dear Fortunato, you are luckily met. How remarkably well you are looking to-day! But I have received a pipe of what passes for Amontillado, and have my doubts. (1568). Montresor calls Fortunato .dear. when he hates this man with a passion. He also knows that Fortunato is not dressed appropriately; he is dressed as a clown, but Montresor still compliments him on his attire because his clothing fits with Montresor.s plans–to make a fool out of him. Moreover, Montresor points out, .My friend, no; I will not impose upon your good nature. (1568). Montresor again calls him his friend which is ironic because he hates Fortunato and considers him an enemy. He also says that Fortunato is good, but Montresor knows that he is not good because Fortunato insulted him. After being insulted by Fortunato, Montresor is not about to consider him a true friend and has planned to kill him out of revenge.

Poe uses numerous examples of situational iro