Poe and Hawthorne vs. the Irony of Gothicism
Poe and Hawthorne vs. the Irony of Gothicism Many writers use literary devices in order to portray a central theme in their stories. These devices enable the stories to have a more in depth meaning, rather than what is blatantly being said. In this case, there is a constant use of irony, which is the use of words to express something other than and especially the opposite of the literal meaning (Webster 619). The use of irony reflects the idea of Gothicism, which can be said to be the darker side of human nature, with a bizarre twist. These thoughts are conveyed by many American writers, such as Edgar Allen Poe and Nathaniel Hawthorne. In their short stories, "The Cask of Amontillado" and "The Minister's Black Veil," Poe and Hawthorne use irony specifically in character description, setting, and dialogue in order to explain the element of Gothicism. Both Poe and Hawthorne express their character descriptions in a satire structure. In "The Cask of Amontillado," the main character Montresor becomes the narrator as he tells the tale of his enemy Fortunato. Fortunato would usually mean fortune, such as: wealth, luck, or destiny, but not in this case because Poe uses verbal and dramatic irony to tell his tale. Fortunato is
The main character, Parson Hooper, is a "Puritan minister who had realized the full significance of the Calvinist theology he preaches, a theology which embraces the idea of predestination" (Montbriand 1). When the two characters met up with each other, they accosted much warmth. Hawthorne makes Hooper's character in the most ironic way. Montresor ends the story by saying, "Yes, for the love of God" and in wishing Fortunato to rest in peace, which shows he is defying God and damning himself for life. On the other hand, Hawthorne leaves off with the true meaning of his story and explains his illogical veil. According to Stepp, "Fortunato is broadly drawn as a character entirely befitting his carnival motley. The characters were absurd, the settings were bizarre, and the descriptions were out-there. Fortunato is dressed as a fool with a cap and bells, as he portrays himself as a drunken man when he sees Montresor. This shows a plea for mercy or warning to Montresor to think about the afterlife. However, swathed above his forehead, hanging over his face, concealing all his features except his mouth and chin, was a dark veil, which gave a darkened aspect to all living and inanimate things (1281). certainly not a man of his companion's fine taste" (Stepp 3). Why do you tremble at me alone? Tremble also at each other! Have men avoided me, and women shown no pity, and children screamed and fled, only for my black veil? What, but the mystery which it obscurely typifies, has made this piece of crape so awful? When the friend shows his inmost heart to his friend; the lover to his best-beloved; when man does not vainly shrink from the eye of his Creator, loathsomely treasuring up the secret of his sin; then deem me a monster, for the symbol beneath which I have lived, and die! I look around me, and lo! on every visage a black veil! (Hawthorne 1289). Through the words of Montresor, Poe writes: "Come, we will go back; your health is precious. According to Montbriand, "the veil represents not what Hooper would hide but what is hidden from him.
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