In the short story "The Cask of Amontillado," Edgar Allan Poe writes in first person point of view, from the perspective of Montresor, the diabolical narrator of this tale, who vows revenge against Fortunato. Montresor began to develop the perfect plan for retribution. During the carnival season, Montresor encounters Fortunato and decides to implement his plan carefully not to arouse Fortunato's suspicions through irony. Poe's story describes the inner workings of a murderer's mind, Montresor, who has lived the memory of Fortunato's death for fifty years. Poe uses different types of irony in the conversations between Montresor and Fortunato.
             First, Poe uses dramatic irony in the story. For example, Montresor expresses concern about Fortunato's health.
             Montresor points out, "Come, I said, with decision, we will go back; your health is
             precious. You are rich, respected, admired, beloved; you are happy as once I
             was. You are a man to be missed. For me it is no matter. We will go back; you
             will be ill, and I cannot be responsible" (434).
             Both the reader and Montresor know of his devious plan of murder that awaits Fortunato when he descends into the catacombs in search for the wine. But, Fortunato, naive, does not suspect that Montresor is capable of such an act. Montresor pretends that he is concerned about Fortunato's health, when he says they should go back. In fact, Montresor could care less about Fortunato's health; he is just concerned about his own advantage of manipulation by luring him into the catacombs to carry out his plan. Montresor also intends to be responsible for Fortunato's death. Montresor does not want Fortunato to die of a cough or from the niter in the catacombs, but of his own destruction. The drunken Fortunato is the only one in the story who is unaware of Montresor's real motives; which demonstrates situational irony. ...