Literary Devices in The Cask of Amontillado Essay

Edgar Allen Poe was born on January 19, 1809 and he died in October 7, 1849. The cause of his death is unknown, just as mysterious as the plots in his literary work. He uses irony and symbolism in The Cask of Amontillado in a distinct and unique manner to foreshadow events, increase tension throughout the stories, and to provide symbolic imagery to the reader.

In The Cask of Amontillado, Edgar Allen Poe uses several forums of irony and symbolism throughout the story to illustrate foreshadowing. This can be observed in The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult, I vowed revenge. Montresor is indicating that Fortunato, had wronged him thousands of times before, and that he could bear no more. Now he must punish Fortunato, but with impunity, which means he must be able to punish with exemption of being harmed or caught. Poe uses verbal irony when Fortunato insists he will not die from his cough, Montresor replies True True, knowing that he has plans to murder Fortunato. Another example of verbal irony is when Montresor wishes Fortunato a long life in a toast when indeed, his good health is about to end. Poe uses dramatic irony when Montresor leads Fortunato down deep into the cave, where bones of bodies litter the floor. Fortunato should have known he was walking into a trap because he was led into a dark cave. Wet nitre hung from the walls, and it grew in size the deeper they travled into the cave. The image drawn from the scene, is of a tomb, with human bones already present. The tension thickens as the plot of Montresor ensues.

Edgar Allen Poe`s use of language helps intrigue the reader and create interesting situations. Sometimes it`s what the narrator doesnt say that builds the suspense. In the story The Cask of Amontillado the narrator never divulges how Montresor was wronged that murder was the only punishment acceptable. It couldnt be that substantial, since it was not a physical altercation. You can come to this conclusion from the dialog, It must be understood that neither by word nor deed had I given Fortunato cause to doubt my good will. This projects the image that Fortunato and Montresor are in a false friendship and Montresor`s smile is coming from the thought of Fortunato being murdered. Fortunato's last words before being chained to the rock are He is an ignoramus. In reality, Fortunato is the ignoramus, for being a nave drunk and for allowing himself to be chained to a tomb in a cave.

Edgar Allen Poe saturates his literary works with symbolic imagery, it is very profound in Fortunato's carnival outfit, and it is described as "The man wore motley. He had on a tight-fitting parti-striped dress and his head was surmounted by the conical cap and bells." In short, Fortunato is dressed as a fool, a symbolic representation of what he really is. Montresor dressed mysterious, he wore black with a black mask. The narrator uses the "supreme madness of carnival season" to symbolize how he is actually the one who is insane. It is the carnival`s symbolism that lends the story its alluring nature. Also the image A huge human foot d`or, in a field azure; the foot crushes a serpent rampant whose fangs are imbedded in the heel. This image gives the reader the sense that Montresor is the foot, and he must trample the serpent who`s fangs are in his heel. This picture leads the reader to draw a conclusion of how cunning and violent the narrator is. He could possibly be insane.

Looking back at the story The Cask of Amontillado, Edgar Allen Poe uses specific symbolic imagery and irony to narrate the story, foreshadow events, and builds the suspense. In the last two sentence of this short masterpiece the narrator gives off the implications he got away with his crime. For the half of a century no mortal has disturbed them. Here the narrator addresses the reader and implies that he obviously has gotten away with his crime since fifty years have passed. Although he cannot forget even the smallest detail over the fifty years, so you have to ask the question who ultimately had their revenge?