At the beginning of the story, Fortunato is dressed as a carnival jester. “He had on a tightfitting part striped dress, and his head was surrounded by the conical cap and bells” (237). Montresor thought of him as a fool because of the way he was dressed, but also thought of him as a fool because Fortunato was under the impression that he and Montresor were still friends, …show more content…
When he said this, it came off as he was trying to care for Fortunato. Instead, he meant the opposite of what he said, which is defined as irony.
Lastly, another example of irony is when Fortunato continues to drink even though he has been coughing throughout the night. “The cough is a mere nothing: it will not kill me. I shall not die of a cough” (238) is a line that is said by Fortunato. The irony in the sentence is in “I shall not die of a cough.” (238) because the readers know that he will not die of a cough, but by Montresor burying him alive. Once again, the readers are aware of something that the character in the book was not. Fortunato also said that “I drink to the buried that repose around us” (238). He does not yet know that the catacomb walls are also going to be his place of death.
Irony is used throughout the story in many different places. Readers of The Cask of
Amontillado are fully aware of the irony that is taking place within the story, but Fortunato did not have any idea that the things that Montresor was saying to him were not true. Montresor showed his irony clearly throughout the