Theme Of Revenge In The Cask Of Amontillado

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The Concept of Revenge in The Cask of Amontillado

“THE thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult, I vowed revenge.” Edgar Allen Poe illustrates the concept of revenge in many of the ways he portrays Montresor's want for revenge on Fortunato. Manipulation, the planning of Fortunato’s death, and the mindset of the narrator Montresor are all important points to how revenge was portrayed in this story.

Manipulation and Trickery are the main theme relating to revenge in this story. Fortunato is tricked into going into the wine vault with the narrator by Montresor exploiting his weakness of pride. He lured him in by saying he could get someone else to test the legitimacy of the wine. Trickery …show more content…
"You, who so well know the nature of my soul, will not suppose, however, that gave utterance to a threat". This quote shows how Montresor sees himself and Fortunato during his quest for revenge. What the quote also reveals is how his revenge is consuming him and has turned him into a crazed man who can no longer distinguish right from wrong.

Montresor has planned out Fortunato's death down to every detail. Montresor is so demented he actually planned it out so he could exploit fortunato's pride over his love of wine. He told his servants to stay in the house while he was gone when of course he knew all too well they would not obey and leave the house for the carnival. Montresor also had a place prepared for Fortunato to be chained to the wall and sealed in by brick and cement. This all explains revenge so well because at its core it is pure rage and violence behind revenge.

In conclusion, Montresor’s manipulation and trickery, his mind set on the goal of revenge, and his planning of Fortunato’s death are the most revenge constituted examples in the story. As portrayed in this story, revenge and betrayal can take over someone’s mind. The never ending cycle of revenge is well illustrated by Edgar Allen Poe and how he writes about Montresor’s unquenchable thirst for revenge. As Poe’s character stated, “ A wrong is unredressed when retribution overtakes its
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