Edgar
Allan Poe’s short story The Cask of
Amontillado is riddled with all three types of ironies. Verbal irony is the
interchangeable nature between what words are being spoken and what it actually
applies. Situation irony is when the situation or event begins one way to
become something entirely different as the story progresses. Lastly, dramatic
irony is when a character believes something else than what the reader has been
hinted too. Fortunato is the unfortunate named man who the narrator, Montresor creates all types of
ironies for.
The
first example of dramatic irony is prominent in the first paragraph of the
story. Montresor, the narrator of
the story is explaining his mind is set on revenge. Verbal irony is show
through the man Fortunato, who the narrator seeks revenge against. Montresor
does not show any hint of malice toward Fortunato which has created a perfect
scenario to enact revenge without suspicion. Montresor already knows
Fortunato’s weakness for wine, so he will use this to bait Fortunato into to a
trap.
The
scene is a festive party at dusk where drunkenness is already prevalent. The narrator
runs into his friend who is in a ridiculous clown garb and has already drank too
much. Here he tells Fortunato that he has found a wine cask of a rare wine
called the Amontillado. Of course this intrigues Fortunato who is curious of
the authenticity of the wine, so the narrator persuades Fortunato to join him.
Montresor explains that they must go to the vaults, but Fortunato is hesitant
because he is weary of the cold and tight atmosphere of a vault. Never the less
Fortunato follows the narrator to his palazzo, which he has already ensured
will be unoccupied. They take torches and descend into vaults which lead into the
narrators family catacombs. Dramatic irony is again present because Fortunato
has followed Montresor who is
seeking revenge into a dark hidden place.
Fortunato
begins to cough at the musky air. Montresor
uses verbal irony in saying “your health is precious; you are rich, respected,
admired, and beloved; you are happy, as I
once was”. He hands him more wine so he won’t sober up and to keep him
going. Still, because of his cough Montresor
keeps insisting for Fortunato to return to the surface. At which point it is
apparent that Fortunato and his arrogance creates the illusion that he is the
one that is has made the choice to follow Montresor no matter what to taste the Amontillado wine. All the
while Montresor is feeding
him more alcohol to keep him drunk.
Fortunato
is lead to an empty space into the wall of the catacomb. He must go into the
dark, and with the hint of situational irony, wraps chain links around his
waist as to not get lost. Here the narrator secures a padlock while the drunken
Fortunato is stumbling in the dark. Uncovering hidden mortar and stone near the
niche the narrator is keeping him excited by the promise of the wine. He begins
closing up the wall and inside Fortunato has still not realized his fate.
A laugh is heard from the depths of the darkness.
Fortunato isn’t convinced that he is in trouble nor is he aware of Montresor’s ill intention. Ironically,
Fortunato says “We will laugh richly about this back at the party when we are
drinking our wine. Let us leave.” At this point Montresor is nearly done
sealing the wall, he merely responds with “yes.” Now Fortunato has sobered and
probably even realized what is happening.
He shouts “For the love of god, Montresor!” Montresor drops in his torch
and seals the last brick. His revenge is complete and leaves, glad to be away
from the damp catacombs.
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