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 everything but fortunate. The story first takes place at a carnival, where "the man [Fortunato] wore motley" (Poe 1593). Fortunato is dressed as a fool with a cap and bells, as he portrays himself as a drunken man when he sees Montresor. The central irony takes place when Montresor is seen wearing a coat of arms, which depicts a large, human foot crushing a serpent, whose fangs are imbedded in the heel. Also added is his family motto: No one harms me with impunity (Salem 1). On the other hand, although Fortunato was seen as a respected, even feared man; he was seen as a "quack" that cherished wine (1593). When the two characters met up with each ...