Pride and Revenge in Edgar Allan Poe's "The Cask of Amontillado"

By almost all standards, Edgar Allan Poe had a difficult life fraught with hardships such as death, poverty and loneliness. He had first-hand knowledge of the darker, more macabre facets of the world. These harsh realities were reflected in many of the works he produced during his career. "The Cask of Amontillado", one of Poe's most famous short stories is a well crafted tale of revenge. The idea of revenge is as old as the world itself and Poe's story exemplifies how the idea of revenge can drive a man to the point of irrational behavior. Poe uses the idea of revenge as a catalyst to reflect the dark side of human nature. In "The Cask of Amontillado" Edgar Allan Poe shows how a simple idea can motivate and manifest itself into action.

In "The Cask of Amontillado," Poe's diabolical narrator, Montresor sets into action a plan to exact revenge upon Fortunato, a man that Montresor believes has insulted and wronged him. The majority of the story takes place as the two men are walking through the dark, damp tunnels on their way to the cask. Although the story does not include an abundance of action, each aspect of the story is essential to its unity and total effect. From the very beginning Montresor tells the audience of his intentions when he states "The thousands of injuries of fortunate I had borne as I best could; but when he ventured upon insult, I vowed revenge" (Poe). This statement is essential to the understanding of Montresor's motivation. Montresor is obviously fed up with the "thousands" of wrongs that Fortunato has done. Montresor feels justified in his actions. However, Poe makes it clear to the reader that Montresor is not a victim and that his desire for revenge may be misplaced and or exaggerated.

The idea of revenge is one that is almost instinctual to human nature. Although Poe magnifies and takes the idea to the utmost extreme level of premeditated murder, his story reflects an emotion that is familiar to the audience. Poe's story is heavily rooted in the external reality of his world. Familial pride and honor are very important to people. To protect one's name, there is no limit to what some will do. This is evidenced in the description of Montresor's coat of arms and shield and the corresponding inscription. The shield is described as "A huge humans foot d'or, in a field azure; the foot crushes a serpent rampant whose fangs are imbedded in the heel" and the motto reads "Nemo me impune lecessit" (Poe). This translates to 'No one wounds me with impunity.' This detail proves that Montresor is driven more by the desire for revenge and than he is by the actual insult that was committed. At all costs, he has to protect his name. The story also has credence in the contemporary world. Like Montresor, there have been many times when one is mad at another, but unable to pinpoint or recall why they are angered. The only definite is the 'who' they are angry with. This is exactly what the reader encounters with Montresor. It also makes Poe's story symbolic of the world around him.

In the Fortunato character, Poe again exemplifies the characteristics of pride and its impact on human nature. In the story, Poe writes of Fortunato "He prided himself on his connoisseurship in wine" (Poe). And although Montresor respects Fortunato's expertise in wines, he knows that it is the one thing that Fortunato prides himself on. He also knows that by playing on Fortunato's pride in his superior knowledge of wines, he will be able to get him to fall into his trap. Montresor does so by getting Fortunato intoxicated and by challenging his knowledge and suggesting that Luchesi may be a better judge on the validity of the Amontillado. Fortunato responds as expected and boasts that "Luchesi cannot tell Amontillado from Sherry."(Poe) And thus the trap is laid. Poe understands the inner workings of human nature and is able to successfully duplicate the character flaws that lead to the destruction of people.

In "The Cask of Amontillado," Poe not only reflects the ideals that are present in human nature, but he uses his story as an opportunity to comment on the observations that he has made. In the case of Fortunato, Poe's decision to have him dressed as a jester has less to do with the carnival-like setting and more to do with Poe's thoughts on the rich and prideful aristocratic society. Poe's use of the name "Fortunato" suggests a well-to-do and fortunate air that adds to his prideful nature. Ironically, Poe has him dressed as a clown and all the while Montresor is literally making a fool of him. Montresor rejoices at the foolishness of Fortunato. Poe describes "The wine sparkled in his eyes and the bells jingled. My own fancy grew warm with the Medoc" (Poe ).

Poe's use of pride and revenge as driving forces behind a man's actions in "The Cask of Amontillado" reflect the same motivational forces that drove real life people to do things they might not ordinarily do. Poe's acute observance of human nature and the inner working of the mind are exemplified in his works. Poe sought to portray the world as accurately as he saw it.

Works Cited

Poe, Edgar Allan. "The Cask of Amontillado." http://bau2.uibk.ac.at/sg/poe/works/cask_amo.html. August 29, 2010.