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The Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allan Poe

            Thesis: The elaborate symbolism used by Edgar Allan Poe conveys Montresor's true vindictive personality. .
             The short story "The Cask of Amontillado," by Edgar Allan Poe, shows the protagonist Montresor is out for revenge. Poe's dark story leads the reader to believe that Montresor is malicious and unremorseful. In the story "The Cask of Amontillado" we hear the confession of a man who committed a horrendous crime half a century before. Montresor allows the reader to know why he vows revenge: "The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult I vowed revenge" (Poe 543). Montresor smiles because the sacrifice of Fortunato brings him a great reward. The elaborate symbolism used by Edgar Allan Poe conveys Montresor's true vindictive personality. .
             Poe creates a vivid image of the setting; the "supreme madness of carnival season" (543). The use of the setting represents the insanity of the acts that are about to take place in the story. Poe conveys the setting as this: "It was about dusk, one evening during the supreme madness of the carnival season, that I encountered my friend. He accosted me with excessive warmth, for he had been drinking much" (543). Poe's use of symbolism allows him to portray Montresor's personality in multiple ways. However, the carnival and catacomb settings of the story portray Montresor as a heartless killer who shows no remorse. .
             There are two specific settings within "The Cask of Amontillado" that Poe utilizes to convey the personality of Montresor. The two major characters, Montresor and Fortunato, first interact with each other at a carnival. The fact that Montresor begins coaxing Fortunato to come with him at the carnival indicates that Montresor has no respect for the friendly environment of the carnival. Montresor utilizes the vulnerability of Fortunato that is presented to him by the carnival environment in order to take him to the second setting of the catacombs.


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3. Murder In The Catacombs

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