The Cask of Amontillado Argumentative Essay Edgar Allen Poe is a famous writer who is well-known for his short stories. The Cask of Amontillado is one of Poe’s short stories which is about two men, Montresor and Fortunato. Fortunato did something to Montresor, the act is unknown, but it angered Montresor badly enough to make him feel the need to seek revenge. The story portrays Montresor’s long, drawn out plan to kill Fortunato. In the story, it is clear that he was set on killing Fortunato, because of his actions and emotions shown toward Fortunato. The ongoing argument of whether Montresor should be held to capital punishment or not hasn’t been solved. Facts and evidence back up the claim that Montresor should be killed for his wrongdoing. “5 Arguments For And Against The Death Penalty” explains …show more content…
Montresor was never clearly introduced as being mentally ill or insane, therefore he should be sentenced to his death. It is only fair that he is killed. In The Cask of Amontillado, it is proven that the men are drinking. Montresor could have been drunk, and if he was he wouldn’t have been in his right mind, but he still was sober enough to realize what he was doing and was able to follow through with his precise plan. He did offer Fortunato wine, knowing he would accept because he was prideful in his wine tasting. He got Fortunato drunk, (Montresor states this when he says "Drink," I said, presenting him the wine”), then lured him into the catacombs to where he was going to trap him, leaving him there to starve. In conclusion, Montresor should be sentenced to death because he committed a severe crime that hurt a family and friends. There is no other ruly way to punish him rather than killing him. He should receive capital punishment and he should not be allowed to live, because then there is no for sure way to tell if he will murder another person or
Montressor is very prideful of his family linage and this is where we can understand his actions as he plans and carries out the killing of Fortunato. The retaliation on behalf of his family can be a reason to why Montressor carries out the act of killing his insulter. He leads him into the crypts of his family, only to be continually insulted and questions by his “friend”. Eventually leading him to his death, which we also know as “amontillado”, but unbeknownst to Fortunato, whom believes they are on a venture to seek a famous
All rise for the honorary Judge Briskey. Please be seated. Mr. Montresor you are being charged with 1st degree murder of Fortunato due to the confession made to Mark Heyer about the murder how do you plea. Not guilty your honor. Very well the prosecution may proceed with their opening statement and i advise the jury to pay close attention to detail to determine the right judgement of this man.
Montresor tortures Fortunato, both physiologically and physically. Montresor clearly gives Fortunato “multiple chances to escape his fate” (Delany 34), as he gives Fortunato obvious clues to his true intensions. These include leading Fortunato into a place for the dead, telling Fortunato not to go due to his severe cough that made it “impossible to reply” (Poe 5) at times, reminding Fortunato of his family arms, mentioning Luchesi, and showing Fortunato a trowel. Montresor seems to receive morbid joy out of the fact that Fortunato is so intoxicated that, just like the foot on Montresor’s coat of arms, he is unintentionally “stepping into his own destruction” (Cervo
He wants to seek justice for how Fortunato has wronged him. He maintains this goal as he wants to “not only punish but punish with impunity” (Poe, 1). From Montresor’s point of view, he must enforce revenge on Fortunato, as it is what he believes is right. Ensuring that he wants to “punish with impunity” indicates his relentless pursuit of vengeance and how he must ensure that he faces no consequences for his actions. This way, Montresor reveals his underlying arrogance and belief in his superiority.
Fortunato insulted Montresor by embezzling a portion of his wealth, Montresor clearly got his revenge on Fortunato by killing him. Montresor’s motive for the murder is obvious. What is needed is proof that Montresor committed the murder himself rather than get someone to do it for him. Hiring someone to do the job for him would be nearly impossible considering Montresor is lacking money and it would be very difficult to find someone that would be willing to commit a crime like that for a low cost. Montresor has a history of aggressive behavior, especially when he is under the influence of alcohol.
To explain, Montresor was insulted by Fortunato, the resolution to this conflict should have been as simple as confronting Fortunato with his hurt feelings. Instead, Montresor decides “[he] would be avenged” (Poe 543). Because of the dramatic way Montresor decides to resolve the conflict between himself and his friend, his character is shifted towards an unruly one. Montresor has no regards for those around him, he has no insight to anyone but himself. As a result of the way he chooses to resolve conflicts, he allows the conflicts to take control of his every action.
Montresor is a grudge holder. In the beginning, Montresor, explains why he is angry with Fortunato, but didn’t come into detail of what he did to him. Evidently, Fortunato injured and insulted Montresor, who says that he has endured peacefully as Fortunato repeatedly offended him thousands of time. Fifty year ago, Fortunato use to deny what Montresor would say about, who he was or what he had done, as if it was untrue. Montresor would argue back and forth with him explaining that it was true.
Everybody will eventually want revenge on an old friend or just someone they know. Montressor, similar to many people in the world, wants revenge on one of his old friends, Fortunato. The story opens with, “The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as best I could; but when he ventured upon insult, I vowed revenge” (Poe 212). In this statement, Montressor tells the reader what the cause of his revenge against Fortunato is. “The Cask of Amontillado”, written by Edgar Allen Poe, tells the story of how Montressor brings Fortunato into the catacombs to bury him alive.
The Ultimate Revenge in “The Cask of Amontillado” Edgar Allen Poe’s twisted nature is well represented in the unique writing style of “The Cask of Amontillado”. This short story takes the reader into the mind of a vengeful murderer who seeks the ultimate revenge. Throughout the writing, Poe combines emotion and imagery to impact to the reader. The construction of this dark and sinister work is manipulated by Poe by using the theme, point of view and tone.
As readers, we have no idea what Fortunato did to Montresor or his family name to drive him to such revenge. Poe hints at certain things, from revenge and the family crest to his arrogance of insisting that Fortunato penetrate the Montresor vault to acquire the esteemed Cask Amontillado. "The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult, I vowed revenge" (1126). The only clue is that Montresor systematically closes up Fortunato in a bone chamber perhaps with others who have wronged his family in the past. However, due to the reader's not knowing his true injustice, his murder seems unjustified and maybe even cruel to some
In the other story, “The Cask of Amontillado,” Montresor plots revenge on Fortunato by taking him into the catacombs while he is drunk, to later turn on him and kill
Is Montresor just a selfish evil genius fueled with revenge, or a good samaritan who wants to give the people the vengeance they deserve? It’s very clear to see why Montresor is the ultimate character of revenge; Montresor indicates that he is going to kill Fortunato, just for the sake of revenge, as seen in this quote, “… He [Fortunato] ventured upon insult, I [Montresor] vowed revenge” (Poe 61). The whole story is based upon the concept of revenge.
Montresor told Fortunato that he is a “rich, respected, admired, beloved” (86) man. He does not actually think that. When he says he “must not only punish” (83) Fortunato, but he must “punish [him] with impunity” (83), which he does. The first step in Montresor's plan is to get Fortunato to go in the catacombs. He says to Fortunato, “Come, we will go back, your health is precious” (86).
Would you really want a sick man tasting wine that is so delicate in difference? No, you would not. This was simply how he lured Fortunato into the catacombs in order to commit this appalling crime. The final reason why Montresor should be charged with this horrendous crime is that screams were heard coming from the catacombs on the night of Fortunato’s disappearance.
Montresor then starts to easily manipulate Fortunato. Montresor uses Fortunato’s vanity against him to get what he wants. Fortunato thinks that Montresor has nothing against him and just wants him to taste wine. Fortunato goes with Montresor, and in doing this Fortunato becomes complicit in his own demise by insisting on sampling the amontillado. This allows Montresor to take control and lure Fortunato to the vaults, where Montresor becomes murderous.