The Paradox of Revenge in Edgar Allan Poes The Cask of...

The Paradox of Revenge in Edgar Allan Poes The Cask of Amontillado ?The Cask of Amontillado? raises a question pertaining to the multiple character of the self (Davidson 202); Can harmony of ones self be restored once primal impulses have been acted upon? This question proposes the fantasy of crime without consequence (Stepp 60). Edgar Allan Poe uses first person point of view, vivid symbolism and situational irony to show that because of mans inner self, revenge is ultimately not possible. Edward Davidson suggests that Montresor, the main character of the story, has the power of moving downward from his mind or intellectual being and into his brute or physical self and then return again to his intellectual being with his†¦show more content†¦Both of these thoughts are developed because of the fact that Montresor is telling the story himself. The means in which Montresor expresses himself expose his insecurities. When he no longer hears Fortunato crying out, he says, there was a long obstinate silence (156). The personification of the silence by the use of the word obstinate? projects the intent on Fortunato, implying that Fortunato is purposely depriving Montresor of satisfaction. But actually, Montresor seeks to escape from his own limitations by imagining them as imposed by outside force (Stepp 61). The force is a surrogate of the self. Every word goes to characterize the narrator, Montresor, and adds to the irony of the story. Fifty years later he is confes sing the story and taking particular delight in his cleverness, but is unaware he is revealing a desperate human emptiness. James Gargano makes a general statement about Poe?s narrators that applies perfectly to The Cask of Amontillado; he says, Poe assuredly knows what the narrator never suspects and what, by the controlled conditions of the tale, he is not meant to suspect--that the narrator is a victim of his own self-torturing obsessions (166). In this way, Montresor is a classic Poe character. Poes use of symbolism gives the reader the opportunity to see the conflict between Montresors inner self and his outer being.Show MoreRelatedHumorous Analysis Of The Cask Of Amontillado By Edgar Allan Poe977 Words   |  4 Pages Ironic Revenge in â€Å"The Cask of Amontillado† by Edgar Allan Poe Edgar Allan Poe is one of the most recognized and praised fiction writers in world literature. Not only does he masterfully create the atmosphere of suspense and danger in his short stories, he also builds up a sophisticated blend of horror and elegant irony that haunts the reader and reveals the complexity of Poe’s literary talent. â€Å"The Cask of Amontillado† is a perfect example of such combination. In this twisted short story of revengeRead MoreRomantic Writing : Edgar Allan Poe1112 Words   |  5 PagesRomantic writing can be simply measured by the presence of one simultaneous conjunction; the mastered use of the written word and the ability to illustrate intense emotion. Edgar Allan Poe, born in 1809, was an American writer, editor, and literary critic. Poe is best known for his short stories and poetry, especially those consisting of tales of mystery and horror. Widely regarded as a central figure of Romanticism in American literature, he was one of the co untry’s first practitioners of theRead MoreThe Cask Of Amontillado Character Analysis3502 Words   |  15 Pagesabout Revenge in Edgar Allan Poe s The Cask of Amontillado Edgar Allan Poe s short story The Cask of Amontillado was first published in an 1846 issue of Godey s Lady s Book, a popular women s magazine in America (Nagy). Poe s tale of premeditated murder is narrated by a smug Montresor, who feels vindicated after disposing of his enemy by walling him up in the catacombs. Yet, it is not only the premeditated murder that makes this tale horrifying. Part of the terror of The Cask of Amontillado