The Cask of Amontillado

The Cask of Amontillado

“The Cask of Amontillado” is an interesting short story about a man, Montreso, who feels he has been wronged in the past and who seeks extreme retaliation on the person who has committed this evil deed. Evidence of this is found in the passage from the story: “I must not only punish, but punish with impunity.” This is a clue as to what is to follow in the story. “The Cask of Amontillado” is a story filled with trickery and deception. It takes place in stage five on the epic map, in which a man strives to get his revenge and satisfaction. Several unusual and strange archetypes can be found throughout the story.

The narrator, Montresor, speaks many times in the story about how he has been wronged in the past by Fortunato. The narrator never indicates as to what the evil deed was for which Montresor is seeking retaliation. We know that the story takes place at station five on the epic map, the work. Montresor appears to be striving to get out of the pit. He feels as if his friend, Fortunato, has put him in the pit because of an unspecified insult that occurred many years ago. To emerge from the pit Montresor feels he must get revenge by burying Fortunato alive, deep inside the catacombs.

Montresor can be archetyped as the divided self, as he is a man who is extremely indecisive. There are many instances in the story that suggest that Montresor wants to turn around and not continue with his plot. In the end he still continues on to reach his ultimate goal. An example of his hesitancy of carrying out his plan can be found in the quote that follows. “’Come,’ I said, with decision, �we will go back; your health is precious. You are rich, respected, admired, beloved; you are happy, as once I was. You are a man to be missed. For me it is no matter. We will go back; you will be ill, and I cannot be responsible. Besides, there is Luchesi---“

Fortunato is an interesting character to archetype. It is rather difficult to archetype this character, because the reader is never told why Montresor is seeking vengeance. Fortunato can be archetyped as the scapegoat. The name Fortunato is an Italian word meaning fortunate, and this is very ironic, since he is not so fortunate at the conclusion of this story. I feel as if Fortunato may have never personally done anything to wrong Montresor, but instead, it seems as if Montresor may be jealous of Fortunato. With Fortunato being the archetype scapegoat, Montresor seems to be satisfied because of the ultimate misfortune of Fortunato. This idea of jealousy is also evident in the following quote. “You are rich, respected, admired, beloved: you are happy, as once I was.”

The setting of “The