Amontillado And Monster Similarities

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Murder is everywhere, therefore it greatly impacts our daily lives, affects the way we view the world around us as well as those who live in it. Through media, we are constantly exposed to war, and violent murders every day. These situations can scare us into becoming cautious people even though they may never present themselves in our lives. Through the exploration of Cask of Amontillado and Monster, along with the analysis of planning each crime and motive for murder, it will become apparent that even though these murders are vastly different, the crime itself as well as the motive remains prominently similar. The planning of the murders in Cask of Amontillado and Monster are quite different. In these texts, there are two types of crimes;…show more content…
The way in which Montresor finds Fortunato’s weak point is absolutely brilliant. As they share a love of vintage wines, Montresor coaxes him into the catacombs below his palazzo to get his opinion of a very luxurious wine, Amontillado. The story ends with Montresor replacing the bones that covered the entrance to the recess at the end of the catacombs, then finally uttering the words “in pace requiescat” (Poe), meaning, may he rest in peace. The film Monster has exceptionally contrasting planning methods. There is an additional element added to Monster that Cask of Amontillado was lacking; multiple murders. Aileen’s victims all share one main similarity; they pick her up because she is a prostitute. Lee’s first murder is completely unplanned and was a crime of absolute opportunity, however it was necessary to her life. She began “hooking” again to provide for herself and girlfriend, Selby. The “John” that picked her up drove deep into the woods, beat her and raped her brutally, and as she woke up from her unconsciousness, he…show more content…
Where there is murder, there is motive, whether it is readily apparent or hidden. The motives throughout both works contain some similarities, however the primary motive behind the killing of Fortunato in Cask of Amontillado and Aileen’s victims in Monster can be considered fairly different. Montresor, the narrator and main character of Cask of Amontillado had been insulted deeply by Fortunato. Montresor was so insulted, in fact, that he decided to seek utmost revenge upon the man who wronged him. Revenge was Montresor’s primary motive throughout this reading. It is obvious through the words “I must not only punish, but punish with impunity” (Poe) that Montresor feels he is doing no wrong because justice needs to be served. The motive of revenge in Cask of Amontillado is somewhat unlike the motives of Aileen “Lee” Wuornos in the film Monster. While Lee commits several murders, her first murder differs greatly from the others, in that the primary motive was self-defense. The “John” that raped her was about to kill her, but as she regained consciousness, she shot him before he had the chance. She used her fight or flight response, to save her own life by taking the life of her attacker. This made her realize that though it scarred her emotionally, she was capable of killing. It became a source of income after seeking traditional
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