The Cask of Amontillado
Answers to Questions
1. What is Amontillado?
1. What is Amontillado?
Amontillado is a type of Spanish sherry wine.
Poe needed something to lure Fortunato underground where Montresor
could chain him to the rock wall and leave him to die. Wine was the best
lure because Fortunato loved wine and was already drunk when
Montresor found him in the street.
But what kind of wine? It obviously couldn't be Italian wine because there
was an abundance of that at all times, and especially during the "supreme
madness" of the carnival. Montresor couldn't say that it was French wine
because he was French himself and was a connoisseur of wine. He twice
offers Fortunato French wines when they are down in the catacombs:
Medoc and De Grave.
The only other alternative was a Spanish wine. The Spanish export a lot of
sherry, and the finest sherry is Amontillado.
The Amontillado, of course, never really existed.
2. Why did Montresor seek revenge on
Fortunato?
2. Why did Montresor seek revenge on
Fortunato?
Edgar Allan Poe’s story “The Cask of Amontillado” ventures into the
world of retribution. The entire story surround’s the main character’s
desire for vengeance for an insult. This was the final straw after “the
thousand injuries” that Montresor had suffered at the hands of the
Fortunato.
Montresor doesn't specify the insult he received from Fortunato. But he
doesn't mention any of the thousand injuries either.
Poe wanted to make his story as short as possible, in accordance with
his rationale that there should be no unnecessary word in a short story;
and if he got into describing a lot of injuries it would add many words of
explanation.
Also, if Poe explicitly stated the insult, readers might not be satisfied that
the insults really merited such serious revenge.
3. How did Montresor know the house
would be empty?
3. How did Montresor know the house
would be empty?
Montresor knew the house would be empty because the Italian carnival
was going on and all of the house servants would be out partying. He
cleverly used this to his advantage to lure Fotunado back to his house to
get his revenge.
Montresor told his servants he was going out for the evening, and to stay
in the house. He comments wryly that:
"These orders were sufficient, I well knew, to insure their immediate
disappearance, one and all, as soon as my back was turned."
4. Explain the Significance of Montresor’s
statement
“At length I would be avenged:
this was point definitely settled...I
must not only punish but punish
with impunity. A wrong is
unredressed when retribution
overtakes its redresser. It is
equally unredressed when the
avenger fails to make himself felt
as such to him who has done the
wrong.”
4. Explain the Significance of Montresor’s
statement
“At length I would be avenged:
this was point definitely settled...I
must not only punish but punish
with impunity. A wrong is
unredressed when retribution
overtakes its redresser. It is
equally unredressed when the
avenger fails to make himself felt
as such to him who has done the
wrong.”
To understand the quotation it is
important to define these words:
Impunity - freedom from
punishment or to receive immunity
Redresser - the person seeking
revenge
Unredressed - unable to set things
right or repair
4. Explain the Significance of Montresor’s
statement
“At length I would be avenged:
this was point definitely settled...I
must not only punish but punish
with impunity. A wrong is
unredressed when retribution
overtakes its redresser. It is
equally unredressed when the
avenger fails to make himself felt
as such to him who has done the
wrong.”
Montressor intends to make
Fortunato pay for the wrongs done
to him, which Fortunato never set
right. But in the process he intends
to escape retribution himself,
believing to be caught would be a
perversion of justice.
4. Explain the Significance of Montresor’s
statement
“At length I would be avenged:
this was point definitely settled...I
must not only punish but punish
with impunity. A wrong is
unredressed when retribution
overtakes its redresser. It is
equally unredressed when the
avenger fails to make himself felt
as such to him who has done the
wrong.”
Here Poe plays with the idea that
“He who would seek vengeance
must dig two graves,” a concept
that frequently appears in the
revenge tragedies that “Cask”
resembles.
Though revenge tragedies
conventionally end with both the
revenger and his victim(s) dead,
Montresor decided early in his
plan that the only true revenge is
the kind that you’re around to
enjoy after.
5. In your own words, describe the
catacombs that Fortunato is led through.
5. In your own words, describe the
catacombs that Fortunato is led through.
“The catacombs were a very eerie and ominous place. The air was overwhelmingly
shrouded with nitre, so much so that it became very difficult to breathe. It was
musty and soggy, but dry dust seemed to cover every surface. There was a faint
smell of wine, masked by the many other suppressing smells, but you could taste
it in the air. The tunnel was very dark and full of shadows, with many confusing
hallways and stairways that one could easily get lost in. The ceilings were all
arched and very low, and there were what seemed to be hundreds of unlocked
doors with pure darkness behind them.”
6. Where and when is the story set? Give
reasons for your answer.
6. Where and when is the story set? Give
reasons for your answer.
The story is set in Italy during the 19th century. It is the day before Ash
Wednesday (Lent), during carnival season; which is known as Mardi Gras
in America.
 The names of the characters (Montresor, Fortunato, Luchesi) are all
Italian.
 Throughout the whole story Fortunato is dressed a jester
 The story was written by Edgar Allen Poe in 1846
7. Why does Montresor make sure
Fortunato has drunk a lot of wine?
7. Why does Montresor make sure
Fortunato has drunk a lot of wine?
He wants to get Fortunado a little drunk so he’ll be calm and his reactions
will be slowed.
Since alcohol is a depressant it slows down the body and if Fortunado is
calm and stationary then he is easier to trap and keep dazed.
Also, Fortunado was affected by the nitre in the catacombs and used wine
as a medoc to keep it under control.
8. What is Luchesi’s role in the story?
8. What is Luchesi’s role in the story?
Luchesi is a fellow wine connoisseur and friend of Montresor and
Fortunato.
He is used as bait to lure Fortunato into Montresor’s trap.
Montresor asks for Fortunato to come verify the bottle he just received is
really Amontillado.
Pretending to fear for Fortunato’s health amidst the damp catacombs,
Montresor offers to simply have Luchesi do it.
Fortunato believes that Luchesi does not know wine as well as he does
and insists that he have a look at this famous Amontillado.
9. What preparations had Montresor
made for his revenge?
9. What preparations had Montresor
made for his revenge?
To prepare for his plan, Montresor emptied the house, prepared the
catacombs, came up with a brilliant story to lure Fortunato, waited for a
night where he would not be missed among the crowds of people
celebrating in the carnival, and got Fortunato completely drunk.
He lured Fortunado to his house and he also set a shovel and lots of
mortar and stone in a crypt deep within his catacombs where he would
lead Fortunado. He planned to bury him alive within a wall of stone.
10. Why does Montresor appear
concerned about Fortunato’s health?
10. Why does Montresor appear
concerned about Fortunato’s health?
Montresor appears to be concerned about Fortunato’s health because
he wants to make it seem like it isn’t a trap and that he is actually
showing Fortunato the wine because they are friends and not because
he wants to kill him. Montresor wants to build up trust and
determination in Fortunato but telling him he should go back because
of his health but Fortunato wants to keep on going, which Montresor’s
plan all along.
11. Montresor describes his family coat of
arms in the following manner:
"A huge human foot d'or, in a
field azure; the foot crushes a
serpent rampant whose fangs
are imbedded in the heel."
How does this
description serve as
foreshadowing in the
story, and what do the
objects represent?
11. Montresor describes his family coat of
arms in the following manner:
"A huge human foot d'or, in a
field azure; the foot crushes a
serpent rampant whose fangs
are imbedded in the heel."
How does this
description serve as
foreshadowing in the
story, and what do the
objects represent?
11. Montresor describes his family coat of
arms in the following manner:
"A huge human foot d'or, in a
field azure; the foot crushes a
serpent rampant whose fangs
are imbedded in the heel."
How does this
description serve as
foreshadowing in the
story, and what do the
objects represent?
Montresor’s family coat of arms
extends the idea of retribution. A
foot crushes the snake [a wrong
has been done] with the snake
turning its head and biting the foot
[the wrong has been avenged].
12. How does not knowing what Fortunato
did to Montresor intensify the horror of
this story?
12. How does not knowing what Fortunato
did to Montresor intensify the horror of
this story?
From the story's first sentence to the last, the reader is left to wonder what
"insult" could have been so hurtful as to cause Montresor to create such a
horrific punishment for Fortunato.
The horror of this story lies not only in Fortunato's punishment but also in
the unknown cause of his punishment. Under normal circumstances, we
judge a person's actions in part on the basis of the cause of those actions.
Without knowing the cause, we are left in a kind of moral limbo--we can't
assign blame to either Montresor or Fortunato because we never know
what Fortunato has done, and without knowing that, we cannot decide
whether Montresor is reacting appropriately (assuming murder is
appropriate to any situation) or is, to put it bluntly, crazy.
12. How does not knowing what Fortunato
did to Montresor intensify the horror of
this story?
Fortunato's guilt can never be measured because we don't know what to
measure. We can conclude, based on the narrative, that Fortunato is an
arrogant, prideful man, but those attributes don't seem sufficiently bad to
justify murder. We can also conclude that Montresor is a vengeful
murderer, but we can't judge him on a moral basis because we are missing
the cause of his hatred.
The horror of Fortunato's death, and the logical, methodical way Montresor
has arranged it, is compounded by the fact that we can never understand
Montresor's motivation, and motivation is key to rendering a moral
judgment on someone's actions. We are left, as all readers have been,
horrified by a truly inexplicable revenge, and that leaves us in a moral
vacuum--a horrible place to be.
13. Explain the Significance of Montresor’s
statement: "You are a man to be missed."
13. Explain the Significance of Montresor’s
statement: "You are a man to be missed."
Clearly the word "missed" hints at the foreshadowing of Fortunato's
death. Fortunato is a man who will soon be missed, at least by his
wife, since he will no longer be seen again after Montresor finishes his
murderous plan.
It is foreshadowing because it prepares us for the idea that something
might happen to Fortunado, and we might begin to question
Montresor's motives.
It is also ironic that Montresor states that "I cannot be responsible,"
because, of course, he will be responsible for Fortunato's death.
14. Do you think Montresor’s crime will
ever be discovered? Why or why not?
14. Do you think Montresor’s crime will
ever be discovered? Why or why not?
“I don’t think his crime will ever be discovered because for starters, Fortunado’s
body was hidden in a niche covered by a wall of stone deep within dark
catacombs. The odds are extremely low of anyone discovering Fortunado’s
body. Also, at the end of the story Montresor says, “For the half century no
mortal has disturbed them.” He is referring “them” as the bones and bodies in
the catacombs. If 50 years passed with nobody finding the bones or bodies then
I don’t think anyone will. Montresor performed the crime with such precision
and efficiency that you wouldn’t have seen it coming.”
15.Why is Fortunato's name ironic
in "The Cask of Amontillado"?
15.Why is Fortunato's name ironic
in "The Cask of Amontillado"?
The name Fortunato sounds very much like the word fortunate.
Of course, Fortunato is anything but lucky. He is manipulated by
Montressor and led to his untimely and horrific death.
So the irony lies in the fact that a man whose name would indicate
good fortune ends up with the very ill fortune of being buried (or
technically walled up) alive--not very fortunate at all.
16. What are some examples of
irony used in the story The Cask of
Amontillado?
16. What are some examples of
irony used in the story The Cask of
Amontillado?
“The Cask of Amontillado” is loaded with situational, dramatic, and
verbal irony.
16. What are some examples of
irony used in the story The Cask of
Amontillado?
Examples of situational irony, when one thing is expected but the
opposite happens, are numerous.
First, the word “cask” means “wine barrel,” but casket, or coffin,
also comes from the same word, so although Fortunato believes he
will ultimately reach a cask of wine, he actually meets his casket.
Next, the name “Fortunato” means “fortunate” in Italian, but
Fortunato is actually very unfortunate in all actuality.
Finally, although Fortunato is dressed as a joyous court jester, his
festive outfit contrasts with the ghastly fate that awaits him.
16. What are some examples of
irony used in the story The Cask of
Amontillado?
Dramatic irony, when the reader or a character knows something
that another character does not, is also evident in the story.
Fortunato then tells Montresor not to worry about his health and
that “the cough is a mere nothing; it will not kill [him]. [He] will not
die of a cough.” Montresor then replies, “True–true.”
The reader at this point can almost see a devilish gleam in
Montresor’s eyes, for he knows exactly how Fortunato will die.”
16. What are some examples of
irony used in the story The Cask of
Amontillado?
Verbal irony is when one thing is said but another is meant.
For example, when Montresor runs into Fortunato at the beginning of the
story, he says, “My dear Fortunato, you are luckily met.” However, he
actually means that he himself is happy to see Fortunato because he will
profit from this meeting, not Fortunato.
While traveling into the catacombs, Fortunato asks Montresor if he is a
mason, meaning a Freemason, and Montresor says yes. Yet, Montresor
means that he is a craftsman, since he will be entombing Fortunato with
stone and mortar.
16. What are some examples of
irony used in the story The Cask of
Amontillado?
Verbal irony is when one thing is said but another is meant.
Later, Montresor appears to be worried about Fortunato’s health as they
travel deeper into the catacombs and says, “We will go back. Your health is
precious.” However, he has no intention of going back and is not worried
about Fortunato’s health. He is actually using reverse psychology to lure
him further in.
Finally, Montresor brings out some wine to toast “to [Fortunato’s] long life.”
However, he actually means to toast to his inevitable death.
17. What role does Fortunato's “weak
point” play in the narrator's revenge?
17. What role does Fortunato's “weak
point” play in the narrator's revenge?
Montresor's plot for revenge hinges on a critical fact; Fortunato believes
himself to be an expert on the taste and authenticity of wine.
Because of this, Fortunato will be not only willing but insistent on
verifying Montresor's fictional cask of Amontillado wine, in order to prove
himself superior to Luchresi, a locally-accepted expert.
17. What role does Fortunato's “weak
point” play in the narrator's revenge?
Montresor needs to get Fortunato into the catacombs of his own free will;
note that each time Montresor asks Fortunato to return, Fortunato insists
on continuing to find the cask.
Because of this, Montresor doesn't need to do anything drastic, such as
drugging Fortunato or knocking him out; Fortunato willingly goes to his
doom, assured that Montresor has only his best interests at heart.
Had Fortunato not been so egotistical (and also drunk), he would have
not been so eager to one-up Luchesi; however, his ego forces him to
prove his expertise, as Montresor expected from the start.
18. What are some examples of
foreshadowing in the Story? Explain how/what
they foreshadow
18. What are some examples of
foreshadowing in the Story? Explain how/what
they foreshadow
Montresor gives both his audience and Fortunato hints as to his real
motives throughout. As they are moving through the catacombs, Fortunato
begins coughing violently & Montresor feigns concern, telling him they will
turn back for his health.
“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's a mere nothing; it will not kill me. I shall not die of a cough.”
“True—true,” I replied; “and, indeed, I had no intention of alarming you unnecessarily—but you should use all
proper caution. A draught of this Medoc will defend us from the damps.
Fortunato claims he will not die of a cough, & Montresor replies "Truetrue." He is telling the reader and his victim that he is well aware of how
Fortunato will die, for Montresor himself will cause his death.
18. What are some examples of
foreshadowing in the Story? Explain how/what
they foreshadow
One other example of foreshadowing is Fortunato's costume.
He is wearing the traditional garb of the fool for the Venetian carnival. Poe
describes it thus:
The man wore motley. He had on a tight-fitting parti-striped dress, and his head
was surmounted by the conical cap and bells.
Thus, Fortunato is dressed as a jester, a clown.
This foreshadows the role he will play in the story-Montresor's fool. As he
becomes progressively more drunk, he becomes sillier and more pathetic,
fulfilling the clown role.
19. Provide two examples of how the
reader knows that Fortunato is a drunk.
19. Provide two examples of how the
reader knows that Fortunato is a drunk.
Fortunato has a “weak point,” his love of wine.
He knows his fine wines, and so does the narrator. (Translation:
they are both alcoholics.)
At sundown on the night in question, the narrator meets his “friend”
Fortunato. Fortunato already has a good drunk on, and he’s
dressed like a jester.
Fortunato walks shakily, and the bells on his cap jingle as a result.
In the catacombs the narrator gives Fortunato another bottle of
wine. Fortunato makes a toast to the dead resting in peace around
them, and comments on how big the catacomb is.
20. How is the theme, “What goes around
comes around” brought out in the story?
20. How is the theme, “What goes around
comes around” brought out in the story?
REVENGE: What goes around comes around.
The force that drives Montresor to commit the horrible murder of Fortunato
is his powerful desire for revenge. His first words in the story speak of it:
"The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as best I could; but when
he ventured upon insult, I vowed revenge." The idea of revenge is repeated
several times in the opening paragraph. Montresor will not rush to act, he
says, but "at length I would be avenged"; he is determined to "not only
punish, but punish with impunity." The terms of the revenge are quite clear
in Montresor's mind. He will not feel fully revenged unless Fortunato
realizes that his punishment comes at Montresor's hand; a wrong is not
redressed "when the avenger fails to make himself felt as such to him who has
done the wrong." In seeking revenge, Montresor is acting out the motto of his
family.
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