Introduction to Horror in “The Cask of Amontillado”
True to his popularity for writing horror stories, Edgar Allan Poe has beautifully placed the atmosphere of horror in “The Cask of Amontillado” with just two characters belonging to the Italian society. As a horror story shows horror through characters, traits of characters, its situation and setting, the story in question shows various elements of horror. It shows Montresor, who belongs to an honorable family insulted by his friend Fortunate thousands of times. He bears all his insults with fortitude and silence but vows to exact revenge and finds him alone during a carnival season wearing a colorful dress. In order to hook him, Montresor makes him jealous of Luchresi, another connoisseur of the wines, by asking him to check a cask of Amontillado for him lying in the catacombs of his mansion. He brings him over there, chains him in a niche, and says him good bye, leaving him there to die. Although he assures him all the way to the catacomb that he takes care of his health and that they should return, but the jealousy of having another connoisseur and flattery of Fortunato that he is the only one to evaluate the authenticity of the wine forces him to insist on going down. During this entire episode, Poe has used not only the character of Montresor to create horror in “The Cask of Amontillado” but also his deceptive techniques and the setting of the catacomb to create elements of horror in the story.
Characters and Horror in “The Cask of Amontillado”
As far as the character of Montresor is concerned, it becomes clear from the very first sentence that he has borne insults from Fortunato when he says, “The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as best I could” but then he “vowed revenge” (866). It is because Montresor is fully convinced that he has been wronged and that the wrong must be redressed. This revengeful nature of Montresor creates the atmosphere of horror from the very start when he states that he continues acting normally “to smile in his face” (866) which seems villainous. This also shows the shrewdness in his character in that he does not let Fortunato suspect him that he is going to take his life. To top it all, he knows that Fortunato is a dangerous man and it will risky to try to take his life without success as he is “even feared” (866). Moreover, his one act of sending all his servants to enjoy the carnival shows that he is a crafty fellow and wants to kill somebody in his catacomb. The servants must be knowing this old trick. These early expressions of the character of Montresor creates somewhat less horror, but this less horror continues mounting when the story proceeds and Montresor employs deceptive techniques.
Deceptive Techniques and Horror in “The Cask of Amontillado”
Although smiling itself is a deceptive technique, Montresor uses flattery to arouse jealousy of Fortunato. He knows that Fortunato is very fond of wines and also knows his expertise. He narrates him a story of having a cask of Amontillado that he wants to check and that he is going to ask Lurchesi though he considers him no match to Fortunato. Fortunato becomes haughty as well as impatient and asks him to hurry to the place to check it. Although Montresor has used both of these deceptive techniques successfully, he continues playing with his curiosity with his flattery. He has already given “explicit orders” (867) to his servants to go on leave. He then takes Fortunato to the catacomb constantly inquiring and showing concern about his health, but Fortunato does not suspect. This leads to even more horror when they reach the catacomb and see human bones and remains in the damp and dark place. This setting of the catacomb intensifies the horror and terror.
Environment of Horror in “The Cask of Amontillado”
When they reach the catacomb, it is dark and damp. There is a “white web-work which gleams” in the light of their candles (867). In fact, these are human bones. Fortunato experiences bouts of cough but does not suspect anything. The situation becomes more horrific when Fortunato gives him some Medoc to end his coughing. “The drops of moisture trickle among the bones” (868), which sends a wave of chill down the spine of the readers. It is because it shows that the site has been used for murders in the past. The situation becomes further horrific when they see bones lying here and there and Fortunato is finally led to the place where there is a niche and chain attached to its two sides. It is also that they see human remains on the walls, but Fortunato does not ask or inquire him about it. In fact, all of his tricks have worked wonders on him to bring him to that terrible place. Although they talk with each other in a common way, readers experience horror at the prospect of the immediate death of Fortunato in this somber and fearful place. This setting becomes even more horrible when Montresor starts his work of building a wall to trap Fortunato inside it while “low moaning cry from the depth of the recess” continues coming out (869). They even exchange toasts to each other and say good bye but the horror does not end until the last line where Montresor’s final words in Latin shows that he has said good bye to his friend to die over there.
Conclusion
In brief, Edgar Allan Poe has used not only the character of Montresor but also his manners to create horror in “The Cask of Amontillado”. Moreover, he has made the settings of catacomb even more fearsome by mentioning its darkness, human remains, bones and its dampness. Montresor’s character displays all the features of a horror character such as controlled emotions, monologic expression of revenge, vows to revenge the insults and even the use of deception to kill the opponent. Finally, the catacombs and its atmosphere too are horrible. It is darkness under the ground where the catacombs are full of bones and walls full of human remains. In the midst of this ruination showing horror in “The Cask of Amontillado”, Montresor is with his enemy who is going to be ensnared with a chain to be trapped in a niche with the wall constructed in front of him. In fact, Poe has used all elements at his disposals to make the story show horror and terror oozing out of its text.
Works Cited
Poe, Edgar Allan. “The Cask of Amontillado” from Charters, Ann, Ed. The Story and its Writer: An Introduction to Short Fiction. 6th Ed. Boston: Bedford/ St. Martin’s, 2003.
Relevant Questions about Horror in “The Cask of Amontillado”
- How does Edgar Allan Poe use suspense and foreshadowing in “The Cask of Amontillado” to create Horror in the story, making the reader increasingly uneasy as the story progresses?
- What are the psychological elements that contribute to horror in “The Cask of Amontillado,” particularly in Montresor’s character and his motivations for seeking revenge against Fortunato? How does this psychological Horror affect the reader’s perception of the characters?
- Discuss the symbolism and imagery of the catacombs and the cask of Amontillado itself in the story. How do these elements contribute to the overall atmosphere of horror in “The Cask of Amontillado” and the theme of revenge?
