Masuma Begum
Literature FIQWS 10005 HSK1 and FIQWS 10105 HSK1-Killer Writing
Professor G.D. Peters and Professor Metenko
Critical analysis essay-Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allen Poe
10/18/21
Review of The Cask Of Amontillado
In Edgar Allen Poe’s story, “The Cask of Amontillado”, he discusses the themes of revenge, death, honor, and classicism. This short story discusses how two characters, Montresor and Fortunato, represent the old and the new aristocracy. Montresor is the old aristocracy, since his wealth was dated back to many generations within his family. On the other hand, Fortunato is the new aristocracy, as his status grew higher, and he was able to bring himself up the social ladder. As the new aristocracy gets higher, the previous aristocracy loses their wealth. Due to this, Montresor sees Fortunato as a threat and the source of his misery, he decides that Fortunato must die. Therefore, I contend that even though the deciding factor for Montresor to murder Fortunato may be related to an “insult”, there are other factors in play. The classism in their society fostered an environment for Fortunato’s murder to take place.
In a society like Montresor and Fortunato, people’s lives are shaped by the social hierarchy that they are part of. Especially when it’s aristocracy, in the past, social hierarchies were led by family lineages; while in the present, it is led by independently gained wealth. Based on your social status, people may treat you differently. For instance, according to Baraban, “Since a rich and powerful man such as Fortunato cannot remember Montresor’s insignia, it is logical to assume that Montresor was not an active participant in the local life of the aristocracy” (Baraban 49). By Fortunato not knowing that Montresor had an aristocratic lineage, he believed that due to his newfound status of being wealthy he is powerful. He also believes that no one can disrespect him, but he can disrespect others. This led him to look down on Montresor without thinking about the consequences. This led to Montresor wanting to seek revenge on him as a way to restore his honor.
However, even as society may treat a person differently based on their social class, that person may want to stick to their traditional values. To illustrate, Fortunato recognizes Montresor’s wealth when he sees that the “catacombs of Montresors are extensive and their vastness genuinely impresses Fortunato. In the catacombs surrounded by the remains of Montresor’s ancestors, Fortunato realizes how powerful this family used to be” (Baraban 59). Overall, by showing Fortunato his catacombs, Montresor is going by his family motto “no one insults me with impunity.” This brings Fortunato’s guard down as he sees that his enemy is more powerful than he thought. Montresor takes advantage of this and stages his vengeance killing Fortunato. This represents the old social hierarchy going against the new social hierarchy and preserving their honor.
Analyzing the relationship between Fortunato and Montresor, the two characters represent the changing in guard between the old and new aristocrats. The old aristocrats represent the old society that determined a person’s status through their lineage. If a person is born an aristocrat, then they have the advantages, while the person who is born into a lower class are at a disadvantage. The new aristocrats represent the new society that allows a person to move up in the hierarchy, from poor to rich through their efforts and hardwork. This represents the changing of the guard showing that the hierarchy that you are born into doesn’t dictate the hierarchy you will die into. The old rich lose everything and may be reduced to being less aristocratic while the new rich are given a much higher status. As a result, it can create disparities and resentment. By seeing Montresor’s actions that he committed against Fortunato, we can see that the old society is challenging the new society.
If the chosen “new aristocrat” class is chosen over the “old aristocrat” class, then it becomes a threat to those who had their wealth before the new aristocrats. Even though it has been threatened, both the new aristocrat and the old aristocrat still made their way up into higher status, through hard work. However, there are some differences. The old rich could not make money as the new generation of wealthy people have made, as they live off of inheritance. The new rich have made money that are able to sustain their wealth. It creates a gap, as both sides got their wealths differently. The new aristocrats are the current aristocrats that are new to the life of luxury while the old aristocrats are used to living in luxury. As a result, the attention, respect, honor, and dignity are given to the new aristocrats. Mainly, you would see the old aristocrat getting more respect while the new aristocrats are looked down on. Hence, even though these new and old aristocrats are still rich and powerful, they don’t relate to one another based on how their wealths is seen.
A person must work diligently to move up the social ladder, which can give them opportunities that they never had. As shown in “The Cask of Amontillado”, there were different groups that came, which gave benefits to the society and themselves. The effort that was made, created the new social status. Montreaor lost everything and he noted that “—this Fortunato—although in other regards, he was a man to be respected and even feared. He prided himself in his connoisseurship in his wine. Few Italians have true virtuoso spirits. For the most part, their enthusiasm is adopted to suit the time and opportunity, to practice their imposture upon the British and Austrian millionaires”(Poe 1). With the coming of newcomers, it creates a sense of competitiveness. One side becomes more favored than the other. This is depicted through the new aristocracy becoming more powerful than the previous aristocracy. They are given some special status and treatment, by being considered more modern and progressive. The old aristocracy are considered more traditional and old styled.
In Montresor’s thoughts, he believes that an insult can carry unimaginable consequences, which foreshadows Fortunato’s death. Montresor takes advantage of Fortunato’s weakness, by taking him to explore his ancestor’s treasures in the catacombs. This can be shown when Fortunato says “enough”, he said “the cough is a mere nothing; it will not kill me. I shall not die of a cough” (Poe 2). In response, Montresor says “True—true” I replied “and, indeed I had no intention of alarming you unnecessarily—but you should use all proper caution. A drought of Medoc will defend us from the damps” (Poe 2). The dialogue between the two enemies, brings on the irony that Fortunato has his guard down and doesn’t have a second thought of himself dying. Montresor took advantage of that situation by having Fortunato’s murder all planned out. He does not say his plans out loud by hiding it through his friendly and welcoming facade. As a result, Fortunato doesn’t suspect anything from him. This gave him the chance to get away with his crimes. By killing Fortunato, Montresor feels that he has gained something out of it by having his honor restored. He can now take back what he has lost to Fortunato.
To explain, by having the newcomers arrive in Fortunato’s and Montresor’s society, they contributed to the society. The contributions that newcomers have made is by allowing the economy to advance. As a result, the people and the newcomers benefit from it. This can be presented when the Italian connoisseurs came to make their wine. They gained a lot from their hard work that they made their way up to aristocracy. On the other hand, there are people, who, like Montresor, had wealth and status through family lineage. Thus, this creates a place for Fortunato’s death. In a similar manner, the old aristocracy wants to take back what they have lost to the new aristocracy. They believe that they are supposed to have an advantage over the newly rich. But, in the case of this short story, it was the other way around. The new rich have much more advantages and power while the old rich are left out, since society is used to them. It wants progression instead of sticking to old traditions. Consequently, Montresor found this unfair as his ancestors were there before them. The new classicism and aristocracy replacement, was another reason why Montresor thought that murdering Fortunato was led by the way society favored their new rich.
Overall, although Montresor’s motive for murdering Fortunato has something to do with the insult that he said to him, his other motive is that he has lost everything because of this “new aristocracy”. These factors determine what they have gained or lost based on the society’s norms and changes. He felt that by doing the actions that he did, he wouldn’t feel apologetic about it, due to feeling like he had completed his work. It is as if he had taken back everything that Fortunato once had, as a way to prove to himself that no one is allowed to outdo him. No one is allowed to insult him or disrespect him because everything that he once had belongs to him. He must continue and pick up from where his ancestors started and ended, since he is the head of his own wealth. His wealth and social status as an aristocrat, is his own pride. To challenge that, means to challenge him, which is shown through Fortunato’s action of insulting Montresor.
As a whole, by having another motive to murder Fortunato, Montresor got what he wanted and is able to complete his task. However, this doesn’t change the social class system that was already implemented. This shows that by being in this environment, Montresor felt that he was at a disadvantage. By being burdened by what he has already lost, he can never get it back. The only treasure that is left with him are his ancestor’s wealth, the catacombs, and his lineage. It represents that he inherited the wealth. As for Fortunato, he has worked hard for his wealth and brought his way up to become an aristocrat. He has been lucky enough to gain his new status, power, and wealth. However, the irony shown in this story is that Fortunato is not as fortunate due to showing his weakness, which is looking down on Montresor and insulting him. In return, this results in his death while Montresor gets away with his own crime. The structure of their society has out them in this dilemma against each other.
Bibliography
- Baraban, Elena V. “The Motive for Murder in ‘The Cask of Amontillado’ by Edgar Allan Poe.” Rocky Mountain Review (Rocky Mountain Modern Language Association), vol. 58, no. 2, 2004, p. 47–.
- Poe, Allen Edgar. “The Cask of Amontillado”.1809-1849
