Poe's "The Cask of Amontillado" is a story about revenge. The story begins with Montresor's vow of vengeance, foreshadowing future actions. "The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as best I could; but when he ventured upon insult, I vowed revenge." Montresor had to be sure not to raise suspicion of what he was going to do to Fortunato. Montresor knew that Fortunato believed himself to be a connoisseur of fine wines. Montresor saw this as a weakness that he could use towards his advantage.
             The irony Poe uses throughout the story is first shown in the naming of the characters. Fortunato, meaning "fortunate," is anything but. Irony is secondly shown in the apparel given to the character. Fortunato is wearing "motley." This shows that he is dressed as a jester, wearing "a tight-fitting parti-striped dress, and his head surmounted by the conical cap and bells." Here, Poe is foreshadowing his intent to make of fool of Fortunato.
             Another example of foreshadowing is Montresor's coat of arms and family motto. The coat of arms depicts a foot stepping on a snake in a field of azure with the snake's fangs in the heel of the foot. The motto, "Nemo me impune lacessit," means "No one assails me with impunity." Fortunato does not know that everything symbolized in Montresor's arms is going to happen to him. He is the "foot" that is going to be bit by the revengeful fangs of Montresor.
             One evening, "during the supreme madness of the carnival season..." Montresor meets his "friend," Fortunato, and Montresor is very kind, even affectionate towards him. He greets Fortunato..."My dear Fortunato, you are luckily met..." The reader knows Montresor's real intentions, and that this greeting has another meaning, different from what it would mean if we did not know about Montresor's plan.
             Montresor invites Fortunato to his vaults where he keeps his w
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