Since the beginning of man's creation, man had relied on the justification of his actions to himself and peers in order to hide his guilt. This defense mechanism can be recorded in literature as far back as the Bible. In "the Cask of Amontillado" by Edgar Allen Poe, Poe demonstrates man's use of this defense mechanism and the repercussions of doing so. The narrator of the story, Montressor, attempts to justify his actions in order to hide from his guilt.
             Poe reveals how Montresor justifies his actions in order to bury his guilt. The three attempts Montresor gives Fortunato to escape his fate is a distinct example of how Montresor justifies his feelings of guilt. As Montresor conceives his feelings of guilt he relies on the exploitation of Fortunato's pride to reinforce his justification for following through with his scheme. Als, Montresor's family motto is "Nemo me impune lacessit," meaning no one insults me with impunity." This shows how Poe discloses how Montresor further justifies his murder by adhering to the concept of his family motto. Montresor relies on his family's concept of revenge to convince himself that he must uphold his family motto. Poe uses Montresor's family motto as a tool to allow Montresor to justify his actions to himself as well as the listener of his story. Montresor buries his victim in the family crypt just as he buries his guilt the justification of upholding the family motto.
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