There are two main characters in "The Cask of Amontillado." Fortunato is a "...rich, respected, admired, beloved..." as Montressor quotes. They are both Italian, filled with pride, and have money. Fortunato "had a weak point...although in other regards he was a man to be respected and even feared. He prided himself on his connoisseurship in wine." His weak point of drinking really made Montressor's plan for Fortunato smooth. Fortunato does not come to his senses until he is chained up.

The setting is a gloomy one; "It was about dusk, one evening during the supreme madness of the carnival seasons, that I encountered my friend." As the story proceeds, the setting becomes darker and darker as they walk deeper into the catacombs. Montressor was smart about picking dusk when he was going to meet up with Fortunato beca

Irony first appears in Fortunato's name, once we are made aware, in the second paragraph, that he is going to be killed, he will be anything but fortunate. But the irony continues present throughout the short story as something to call our attention to what is really happening. In the second paragraph Montressor states that in spite of his decision of killing Fortunato, he continued smiling in his face, but he adds: "...and he did not perceive that my smile now was at the thought of his immolation." So, when they meet each other they behaved, as always, but now Montressor's smile had another meaning for himself.

Throughout the story, Montressor exploits Fortunato's interest in wine. First, he tempts Fortunato by claiming he has purchased a cask of Amontillado, which is a dry sherry, but is unsure if its authentic. Instead of asking Fortunato directly to examine the Amontillado, Montressor says he will ask another because Fortunato is busy, thereby playing upon both Fortunato's pride and greed. This pride leads him to his destruction.

The reader new Montressor's intentions from the first couple of lines, but through the irony, images, deep catacombs, to the last jingle of the jester's suit do we actually realize that yes, Montressor has come through with his revenge. This man could not take Fortunato any more. So the next time you tease somebody just think, it could kill them or they can in turn just kill you.

A certain dusk evening, " during the supreme madness of carnival season..." Montr

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Approximate Word count = 1021
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)