The Cask Of Amontillado

A detailed Summary of The Cask Of Amontillado

Revenge is the key factor in the story The Cask of Amontillado. The main character, Montresor, sought vengeance on his friend, Fortunato, because he had insulted him. Montresor and his family's pride was hurt, as the foundation of their family would not stand to be insulted and could not let an insult go unpunished. Montresor then begins to carry out a plan to ensure the ultimate revenge, one that would leave him and his pride unthreatened.

"The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as best as I could, but when he went upon insult I vowed revenge." This statement from Montresor shows us the relation between his friend Fortunato and himself. It leads us to believe that Fortunato hasn't been the best of friends to Montresor. With all that Montresor had put up with, when Fortunato insulted him it went over the top. This statement also says what Montresor would do about it, which is to carry out with revenge. He then goes on to say "I must not only punish but punish with impunity." This means he wants to punish Fortunato, but in a way that he can't be punished in return. So he planned to kill Fortunato, which would make it impossible for Fortunato to punish him in return. He then talks about his thoughts on revenge.

Montresor had said "At length I would be avenged". This means that he isn't in a hurry to take his revenge. He planned his deed carefully, and carried it out slowly. It seems as if Montresor anticipated his revenge with joy. While they traveled down the caverns, Montresor gives Fortunato many opportunities to leave. Fortunato seems weak against the nitre growing on the walls, and coughs repeatedly. Montresor comments on Fortunato's health and tells him that he should leave, but Fortunato says "the cough's a mere nothing; it will not kill me. I shall not die of a cough." In response Montresor says "True --true", foreshadowing that Fortunato might die, but not from a cough. Later Fortunato asks about the coat of arms for Montresor's family. Montresor replies that it was a large human foot crushing a serpent whose fangs were imbedded in the heel. This picture is a symbol of the relation between the two friends. The foot stands for Montresor, and the snake stands for Fortunato; Montresor will crush his friend. The fact that the snake's fangs are in the foot shows that Fortunato has hurt his friend, and that is why he's being crushed. Fortunato asks about the crest's motto and Montresor answers "Nemo me impune lacessit", which means "no one insults me without being punished". This motto of the Montresors, is the meaning of entire story. Fortunato's insult goes against his families believes and damages Montresor's personal and family pride. As they travel deeper, Montresor comments again on Fortunato's health. Fortunato is determined to go on but asks for some Medoc. Montresor gives him a bottle of De Grave to drink, which translated into English means "from the grave". It indicates that the vaults they

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Approximate Word count = 1166
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Novels