Poe's The Cask of Amontillado Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Poe's The Cask of Amontillado - Essay Example "The Cask of Amontillado" is an ultimate tale of revenge which explores how pride can overwhelm a person causing him to pervasively obtain the revenge he believes he and his family is worthy of as well as how pride can become the ultimate instrument for a person's death. Through his artistic skill of combining various literary techniques, Poe portrays why a person overwhelmed with pride is in a grave danger. It should be noted that pride solely controlled the actions of the main characters, Montresor and Fortunato. The pride of Montresor has become his main motivation in plotting his horrific revenge. The opening statement of the story justifies this: "The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult I vowed revenge." Even though the story fails to clearly identify how Montresor was insulted by Fortunato, it becomes apparent that the former regards himself very highly enough for his pride to be severely hurt and stung because of this. This pride motivated him not only to punish but "punish with impunity." Thus, Montresor states, that he should not "fail to make himself felt to him as such to him who has done him wrong." The murderer is overwhelmed by his self-righteousness, justifying even a horrible crime like murder. Montresor's murder of Furtonato can also be interpreted as his quest of redeeming the pride of his great family.