edgar allan poe the cask of amontillado summary

The story is written in short, clipped sentences, which adds to the suspenseful atmosphere. The reader never learns his motive for killing Fortunato, but it is clear that Montresor enjoys watching his victim suffer. The story is narrated in the first person by Montresor, who remains anonymous. The Cask of Amontillado is a classic example of Gothic fiction, a genre that emphasizes horror and suspense. The story concludes with Montresor revealing that this story happened 50 years ago and nobody knows about it except for him and his victim’s dead body. When Fortunato enters, Montresor chains him to the wall and proceeds to seal up the opening to the niche with mortar.įortunato screams and begs for mercy but Montresor ignores him, leaving him to die. The men come to a niche and Montresor tells Fortunato that the Amontillado is within. He tells his victim that he has been insulted and Fortunato agrees to help him seek revenge. Once they arrive, Montresor takes Fortunato down into the catacombs.

Fortunato is eager to verify the wine’s authenticity and insists on accompanying Montresor to his palazzo. Montresor meets Fortunato at a carnival and tells him that he has obtained a cask of Amontillado wine, which he believes is only a few drops short of being genuine. The story’s opening lines suggest that Montresor is plotting revenge: “The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as best I could, but when he ventured upon insult, I vowed revenge.” The two men have not seen each other in some time, and Montresor claims that Fortunato has wounded him deeply. Montresor never names his victim, but he mentions that they were once close friends. The story is set in an unspecified year and place in Italy. The Cask of Amontillado, a short story by Edgar Allan Poe, is the story of a man named Montresor who takes revenge on his one-time friend, Fortunato.

Edgar allan poe the cask of amontillado summary