Cask Of Amontillado Essay, Research Paper

Some people wonder is Montressor was insane in the short story of ?The Cask of

Amontillado.? Well to me, he was. I say this because would a sane man want

revenge on a person? Would a sane man want to kill someone in such a slow and

painful way? That is the idea that is going to be discussed in this essay. ?I

must not only punish but punish with impunity (p. 149) That line in itself just

says that he is not a normal thinking human being. This is when he starts to

make out his plan of retribution. During this time, Montressor was careful not

to arouse Fortunato?s suspicions. ??Neither by word or by deed had I given

Fortunato cause to doubt my good will. I continued?to smile in his face, and

he did not perceive that my smile now was at the thought of his immolation (p.

149). Fortunato had a weakness, which Montressor thought could be good for his

implementing his plan. Fortunato prided himself upon being a connoisseur of fine

wines. In this respect, they were both equals. So therefore, he knew that he

would catch on to the bait and fall into the trap. Montressor knew that

Fortunato had been drinking and this was even more of a good thing for him. He

had shown his gratitude for finding Fortunato because he had just purchased a

large cask of what he thinks in Amontillado, which is a dry sherry. Montressor

had his doubts about its authenticity and so didn?t Fortunato.

?Amontillado?Impossible! And in the middle of a carnival!? (p. 149).

Montressor then told him that he also had his doubts, that he had already paid

full price and that he was sorry for not consulting with him first. He then

tells Fortunato that he was on the way to Luchesi?s because he wanted to know

its authenticity. That was just a piece of the bait to make Fortunato come into

the trap. Fortunato was also placing himself in the trap by suggesting that they

go to their vaults to taste the Amontillado. Montressor plays like he doesn?t

know what he is about to do. Most insane people do that. He claims that he and

Fortunato shouldn?t go because Fortunato has a serious cold. He insisted that

he stay behind because the dampness and the niter wouldn?t be good for his

cough. Fortunato once again, took the bait and the plan was put into action.

When they had arrived, there was no one there. All the servants were gone

according to plan. Montressor kept insisting that they go back because of the

niter and of Fortunato?s cough. ?We will go back; your health is precious.

You are rich, respected, admired, beloved; you are happy, as once I was. For me

it is no matter. WE will go back; you will be ill, and I cannot be responsible.

Besides, there is Luchesi—? (p.150). But once again, He wanted to taste the

Amontillado and he was putting himself closer and closer to his own death. They

both kept walking and Montressor kept saying that they should go back. And

Fortunato kept creeping closer to his death. The soon reached the room where the

Amontillado was kept. "At the most remote end of the crypt there appeared

another less spacious. Its walls had been lined with human remains…Three sides

of this interior crypt were still ornamented in this manner" (p. 152). The

bones had been removed from the fourth wall and were scattered around the crypt.

By doing this, there was an empty crypt "…in depth about four feet, in

width three, in height six or seven…." which had been created (p. 152).

Fortunato was intoxicated at this point from all the drinks that Montressor had

offered before. He then told Fortunato to enter where he then in a moment,

changed him up to the granite. ?In its surface were two iron staples, distant

from each other about two feet, horizontally. From one of these depended a short

chain, from another a padlock. Throwing the links around about his waist, it was

but the work of a few seconds to secure it? (p. 152). Fortunato was taken by

surprise but too intoxicated to resist. ?The Amontillado!? Fortunato called

out. ?True,? Montressor replied, ?the Amontillado? (p. 152), As those

words were spoken, Montressor was carrying out the last things of his plan.

Under the pile of bones were some building stones and mortar. With these and his

trowel, he started closing up the entrance to the crypt. During this time,

Fortunato?s intoxication started wearing off and he started to hear sloe moans

coming from inside. ?There was a long obstinate silence. I laid the second

tier and the third, and the fourth; and then I heard the furious vibrations of

the chain. The noise lasted for several minutes, during which, that I might have

hearken to it with more satisfaction? (p. 152). Now how could a sane person

keep working while listening to the moaning and the movement of the chains? How

could a sane person get a feeling of satisfaction from that? That is one of the

things that make Montressor insane before he commits the act of inhuman murder.

Just as the wall was about chest level, Montressor peeks in and then hears the

?loud and shrill screams?? that came from Fortunato. For a short time,

Montressor was frightened and he trembled, but he realized that no one could

hear him so he started re-echoing him. Then it grew quiet again. As the task was

almost complete, a low laugh could be heard from the interior of the niche. It

was accompanied by a somewhat sad voice. "Ha! ha! ha! –he! he! –A very

good joke, indeed–an excellent jest. We will have many a rich laugh about it at

the palazzo–he! he! he!–over our wine–he! he! he!" (p. 153). Montressor

responded and echoed Fortunato’s laughter. Fortunato then reminded Montressor

that it was getting late, and that people would start looking for them.

"Let us be gone," Fortunato said. "Yes, " Montressor said,

"let us be gone." Fortunato cried out, "For the love of God,

Montressor!" And he replied, "Yes. For the love of God!" (p.

152). Then there was a silence. Montressor then called out for Fortunato, but

there was no reply. He then again looked inside and he let the torch fall.

?There came forth in return only a jingling of bells. Y heart grew sick; it

was the dampness of the catacombs that made it so?I forced the last stone into

place?I re-ereceted the old rampart bones. For the half of a century no mortal

had disturberd them?? (p. 153). That last paragraph just shows that at the

very end, he felt a little guilt, but he was too rapped up in what it was done

for, that he found something else to blame for him feeling that way. This whole

essay explains that he was insane. It shows you the steps and the actions that

this man had done just to get revenge. No sane man would plot this out so well

that no mortal hasn?t touched the ?grave? site for a half of century.