Acquiring Peace in Poe’s “ The Cask of Amontillado”
Edgar Allan Poe’s “ The Cask of Amontillado” does not fail to generate a chilling sensation. Unaware of the surprising twists, the audience finds themselves trapped in the mind of a killer. The narrator, Montresor, professes of a murder that he strategically executed fifty years prior. He places the reader at the crime scene and depicts how he lured the victim, Fortunato, to his family catacombs, chained him down, and bricked him into the wall. He confides in the reader enough to reveal that the motive for his crime is seeking revenge of his rival enemy, Fortunato. In the writing of this piece it is evident that Poe values literary devices and the theme of revenge. His use of symbolism, irony, and foreshadowing suggests that in order to obtain inner peace one must first seek and acquire vengeance against the oppressor.
By analyzing the literary devices the audience can connect the idea that revenge brings Montresor tranquility; he has finally liberated himself of the one person that brings him distress. To begin, it would be right to say that symbolism is omnipresent in this piece; everything has great meaning and significance. Fortunato’s attire was especially important.…show more content… Montresor’s family arms and motto indicate that Fortunato’s demise is fast approaching. The Montresor family arms is a foot crushing a rampant serpent; his motto is “nemo me impune lacessit,” meaning no one wounds me with impunity (Poe 594). The foot crushing the serpent is an omen of Fortunato’s fate, and it stands as affirmation; Montresor will acquire vengeance. The motto “no one wounds me with impunity” simply stands as Fortunato’s warning, and Montresor’s personal vow to attain revenge. Symbolism, irony, and foreshadowing play a major role in the development of the story’s plot, and are also instrumental in the relationship of revenge to