Literary Toolbox: "The Cask of Amontillado" by Edger Allen Poe

"The Cask of Amontillado" Literary Analysis

Edger Allen Poe is known for his twisted and sometimes grotesque novels, poems, and stories.  "The Cask of Amontillado" is no exception.  Poe tells the story of a revenge-driven Montresor who plots to kill Fortunato. (Who, according to Montresor, has given him a thousand injuries).  This short-story provides numerous examples of indirect and direct characterization.  Characterization is the way the author presents a character (or in the case of "The Case of Amontillado", characters, both directly and indirectly).

Two major examples of characterization in this short story are:

1)  "The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could; but when he ventured upon insult, I vowed revenge" (Poe 58).

2)  "... this Fortunato- although in other regards he was a man to be respected and even feared" (Poe 59).

The first example demonstrates indirect characterization of both Montresor and Fortunato.  This quote gives and audience an idea of who these two characters are.  It characterizes Montresor as the bullied, who has finally had enough of Fortunato and his actions.  This excerpt also characterizes Fortunato as a bully, who, on numerous occasions, maliciously insulted and bullied Montresor.  The second example demonstrates a direct characterization by the narrator.  The narrator describes, very plainly and to the point, that Forunato is a powerful and respectable man who should be feared.  However, Montresor is an unreliable narrator, with already biased opinions.  Therefore, the characterizations given and hinted at by the narrator may not be truthful.

Characterization gives you more information about a character, or characters.  It also provokes a reader to begin thinking about the characters.  Indirect characterization makes you make your own conclusions about a character.  These conclusions on Fortunato and Montresor were made at the beginning of the story, where the first example/quote is found.  These conclusions and direct characterization offer more information about the characters found in the story.  Characterization, when used properly, can be a powerful tool in any form of literature.