The Dank Dark Setting of The C

A detailed Summary of The Dank Dark Setting of The C

The Dank Dark Setting of The Cask and Usher

In many of Edgar Allan Poe's stories the atmosphere is dark and dreary. The settings in Poe's stories, "The Cask of Amontillado" and the "The Fall of the House of Usher," are cryptic and melancholy. In "The Cask of Amontillado," a underground vault is described as, "a deep crypt, in which the foulness of the air caused our flambeaux rather to glow than flame" (280). "The Fall of the House of Usher" was set on a cold, gray day in the middle of the countryside. In the story, Poe's beginning sentence is a good example of the setting: "During the whole of a dull, dark, and soundless day in the autumn of the year, when the clouds hung oppressively low in the heavens, I had been passing alone, on horseback, through a singularly dreary tract of country, and a length found myself, as the shades of evening drew on, within view of the melancholy House of Usher" (461). Edgar Allan Poe's use of setting in "The Cask of Amontillado" and "The Fall of the House of Usher" is dismal and morbid, contributing to the effect of horror in these stories.

Poe's word use to describe the beginning of "The Fall of the House of Usher" gives the reader the feel of trepidation. Like noted before, the s

In "The Cask of Amontillado," Poe tells a story of an avenging man, Montresor, wanting revenge on his old friend Fortunato; a man who has inflicted "thousands of injuries" upon Montresor. One evening in France, during a festive carnival, Montresor encounters Fortunato. Fortunato, being a participate in the festival, is drunk and "has been drinking much." "The man wore motley" and also was wearing "tight-fitting parti-striped dress, and his head was surmounted by the conical cap and bells" (277). Many times, Poe mentions Fortunato's cap while he and Montresor proceed to the catacombs. The awkward merry jingles of his cap are prominent sounds that are heard while Montresor and Fortunato walk through the Montresor crypt. There are not going to be any merry occurrences for Fortunato. It is ironic that the bells of Fortunato's hat sound merry chimes when soon he will be far from being merry. The bells represent an ignorant jester unaware of his horrible future. Montresor has lead Fortunato into his death. Poe has made a false impression of merriment from the jingles of Fortunato, and has changed the mood of story from a straightforward horror story to a psychotic thriller.

As they arrive at the entrance of the crypt from the descending tunnels, the reader's fear is at it's highest. The crypt is where Fortunato will meet his fate. There are "two iron staples, distance from each other about two feet" where Montresor will chain Fortunato to the wall. Fortunato is "too much astounded to resist." He has realize something is afoot. The reader is now realizing that Fortunato is nearing his death. The reader also feels Fortunato's astonishment and fear by Poe's use of words. Three sides of the crypt "[have] been lined with human remains." The fourth side has a mound of bones of "some size" (280). Fortunato is surrounded by death and will soon be dead himself. Poe sets "The Cask of Amontillado" in a dark, damp series of winding tunnels piled with bones and sets a frightening scenario for the reader. His use of imagery and words help the reader experience the melancholy catacombs.

The fear is heightening as Montresor and Fortunato walk through the catacombs. The grounds of the catacombs are damp and are encrusted with nitre. The vaults are beneath the river's bed. The nitre is damp and it seems to make Fortunato uncomfortable and sick. He is now miserable and intoxicated, and cannot think clearly. He is now vulnerable to death. As they walk through the tunnels, there are piles of bones from the deceased. The catacombs are not just used to store Montresor's amontillado, but to store the remains of his past relatives. The burial ground adds to the horror due to the death and remains of the decayed bodies. The tunnels then become less spacious as they walk through low arches. The small space has made any attempt of fleeing unattainable.

Poe's choice of setting in "The Fall of the House of Usher" and "The Cask of Amontillado" contri

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Approximate Word count = 2004
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English