Montressor in The Cask of Amontillado Essay

The Cask of Amontillado

Montressor, in Allen Poes The Cask of Amontillado, was certainly strange, but also intelligent at the same time and capable of mindful brilliant planning. He was aware and understands that killing Fortunato who insults him was morally wrong, yet, he continued to do it. He was clearly in control of his reason and show no remorse therefore entirely sane.

Montressor had been irreparably insulted by Fortunato which led to him seeking revenge. In the way of Montressor claimed of Fortunatos thousand injuries and insult in the story gave us the answer of the motive of his murder. He used his subjective experience of Fortunato's insult to name himself judge, jury, and executioner in this story. He was also envy of Fortuno and his prominence.

Montressor told his servants he was not going to be home in the night of carnival, he knew they would go against his wishes and attend the festival. Therefore, there would be no witness present to see him bring Fortunato into his house and down to the family vault. Fortunato was wearing a full costume and mask when Montressor saw him at the carnival night. Fortunate enough for Montressor, Fortunato had been drinking and was intoxicated when they both met. It was the biggest opportunity for Montressor for revenge.

Montressor decided to use Fortunatos fondness for wine against him. He told Fortunato that he had acquired something that could pass for Amontillado, a light Spanish sherry. Montressor told Fortunato that he would ask a man named Luchesi to taste it if he was too busy. It appeared that Luchesi was a competitor of Fortunato who could not tell Amontillado from other types of sherry according to Fortunato. The two men descend into the vault, which were covered by nitre. Aggravated by nitre, Fortunato began to cough. Montressor offered him to stop, but Fortunato refused, yet, they continued the journey. Instead, Fortunato accepted wine that Montressor offered him as cure for his cough. Montressor kept giving him more and more wine along the way to keep him intoxicated.

They finally arrived at the end of the catacombs, which the perfect place for Montressor to complete his brilliant and carefully plan, and Fortunato had gotten heavily intoxicated by then. Montressor chained him to the wall, started laying stones on top of him, and then put a torch and left him there until he die. All the tools and supplies such as iron staples, chain, bricks, and mortar that he used to kill Fortunato had been place a head of time.

Montressors family motto has directed him to revenge himself, but it must be done with impunity. He himself must not be punished; therefore he needed for a perfect plan for his act, showing his ration, even brilliant mind.