Dangers of Pride

The Cask of Amontillado: The Dangers of Pride

In one of Edgar Allen Poe's best-known tales of horror, "The Cask of Amontillado," he suggests that pride can be a very dangerous thing. Through the use of foreshadowing, irony, and symbolism, Poe presents the compelling drama of two men. One who will stop at nothing to get the revenge that he deems himself and his family worthy of, and another who's pride will ultimately be the catalyst for his death. Fortunato falls prey to Montressor's plans because he is so proud of his connoisseurship of wine, and it is for the sake of his own pride that Montressor takes revenge on Fortunato. In this essay, I will examine how Poe utilizes the theme of pride and many other literary techniques such as foreshadowing and irony, in order to create such a horrific and suspenseful masterpiece.

In "The Cask of Amontillado," Poe employs a sinister aspect of foreshadowing. First, when Fortunato says, "I shall not die of a cough" (1148), Montressor replies, "True-true" (1148). Instead, Montressor knows that Fortunato will perish from his vengeful scheme that consists of dehydration and starvation. Fortunato is a proud man and he does not think that his death with be due to some

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They represent and tell the reader what Montressor has planned. Fortunato refuses to leave the catacombs until he proves that he is a true connoisseur of wine and that he knows more about wine then Luchesi. Montressor even asks Fortunato repeatedly whether he would like to turn back. He tells Fortunato that since he was not around, a man named Luchresi tasted it. His "getting even" is evil and will mean death to Fortunato, who's name, meaning fortunate, does not ring true.

The coat of arms of Montressor's family is perhaps the best example of symbolism and foreshadowing in the whole story.

Another instance of foreshadowing comes with the trowel scene. Rather, he believes that his life will end as a result of some courageous act and he will die a noble death. He will not allow his pride to be hurt even if it means getting sicker or catching pneumonia. It is Fortunato, in his attempt to boost his pride and show off his wine-tasting abilities, which insists that they enter Montressor's catacombs. With Montressor's method, he takes Fortunato completely by surprise and makes his death ironic.

The cask of wine also serves as a warning to the reader, advising the reader to be wary of gifts from those whom you have wronged. First of all, the black silk mask and "roquelaire" (1147), or cape, which Montressor puts on before entering the catacombs, represents the devil or death. The motto of Montressor's family is, "Nemo me impune lacessit" (1148), which means, "No one wounds me with impunity" (1148).

Approximate Word count = 1088
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

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