Edgar Allan Poe’ Use Of Irony In The Cask Of Amontillado

Edgar Allan Poe, an American short-story writer, critic and poet, is most well-known for his genre-bending detective stories and fantastical horror stories. Poe was primarily considered a poet.

Poe may have used unreliable narrators to tell his stories, but this does not mean that he was exorcising himself. He was more likely to have been writing stories that would appeal to and keep readers in mind. This is a classic example of this type of story, as we see in “Cask of Amontillado”. As with many Poe’s works, the story centers around a buried person. This is in keeping with the 19th Century’s fascination about the subject. Irony is a humorous and subtle perception of inconsistency. A seemingly straightforward statement can be made but its context changes so it takes on a completely different meaning. Irony can appear in many literary forms, from Sophocles’ tragedy to Jane Austen and Henry James’ novels. However it is especially prominent in satires like Voltaire, Swift, and Jane Austen. Verbal irony can be described as a contradiction between what someone says and what they mean. The most sustained literary irony involves the use in literature of a naive hero or unreliable Narrator, whose view of reality differs from that of the author. It is clear that the author wants to use irony as a plot device. The carnival is a party where people drink and dance. The crime plot is completely absurd in comparison to the setting.

Irony is also evident in Montresor’s friend, Fortunato’s name. It is clearly derived from “fortunate”. He is unfortunate and will be buried alive. But there’s more irony. Fortunato’s name is usually associated with saints and martyrs of the Catholic church, while Fortunato is a drunken and debauchery addict, which is far from the Catholic faith. Montresor is greeted by his friend “around sunset” and says, “My dear Fortunato. Montresor is very affable and ironic towards his friend. He says that he met Fortunato by chance, and that he was grateful for the opportunity. However, he planned carefully each step of Fortunato’s death. Fortunato’s attire is a fool costume. His head was covered with a conical cap and bells, but Montresor praises his appearance. Montresor tells his friend he received Amontillado, and asks Fortunato for his opinion. It is well-known that wine connoisseurs should only taste wines when they are sober. Fortunato however, although enthusiastic, had already been drinking a lot. The “vaults” are where they both descend, and the air becomes toxic. The cellar walls are “encrusted by nitre”. Fortunato’s cough is triggered by the salt and dampness. Ironically/mockingly, Montresor shows signs of worry at his friend’s sickness and urges him to go back to the “palazzo” saying that his health is precious, but Fortunato is sure he will not “die of a cough” and vows to see the Amontillado. Montresor, who is drinking a bottle Medoc from his cellar’s shelves while seeing Fortunato to his death, also shows irony. Montresor, while walking deeper into the catacombs picks up another bottle, this one called DeGrave, to treat his cough. The author has added a layer of irony to this situation. First, DeGrave is the name of the wine. DeGrave is a wine that was more expensive than the Amontillado and is considered to be more refined. This shows Fortunato’s ineptness at recognizing wine. Finally, Montresor chain Fortunato to a corner of his cellar. Montresor’s actions could be considered a parodic inverse of crucifying. This detail could lead to us to conclude that this was a vengeance in the name Christ. A francmason, Fortunato’s buffoon. – Cutitaru. Ironically, Montresor says “For the love God” as he finishes building Fortunato’s tomb. This is against Christian religion’s foundation – “God IS love” – as well as against one commandment “Thou shall not kill”. The story ends with Montresor’s friend being buried alive. This is where the most troubling ironic details are revealed. Montresor’s “heart grew sick” not because of what happened, but rather because he doesn’t feel sorry for what he did. Montresor finally admits his crime after fifty years. He continues to do so, adding the words “In Pace requiescat”, which translates into “Rest in Peace” and is used often by priests. Montresor’s words are ironic because he buried his friend alive in a grave and then wished him to be at peace.

Author

  • jessicawilson

    Jessica Wilson is a 33-year-old essay writer and blogger from the UK. She has been writing since she was a teenager and has always been interested in writing about personal experiences and thoughts. Jessica has written for a number of online magazines and websites and has also published a number of essays and short stories. Jessica currently works as a freelance writer.