The main theme of 'The Cask of Amontillado' is revenge. In summary, 'The Cask of Amontillado' is a dark tale of revenge, featuring a vengeful narrator and an unsuspecting victim who meets a grisly end in the depths of an underground vault.

The story ends with Montresor reflecting on his successful revenge, stating that Fortunato's body will remain undiscovered for generations. Finally, with Fortunato entombed, Montresor listens to his screams and begs for mercy before finally sealing him in forever. However, he is too drunk to resist as Montresor chains him to the wall and begins to build a wall of bricks and mortar around him.Īs the wall rises, Fortunato becomes increasingly desperate, but Montresor continues to work methodically and calmly. Fortunato, at first believing it to be a joke, becomes panicked as he realizes Montresor is serious. Montresor then reveals that he intends to wall Fortunato up in the chamber as his revenge. Montresor takes advantage of Fortunato's intoxication to lead him into a small chamber, where he has already prepared chains and a trowel. Fortunato, already drunk, becomes increasingly unsteady as they descend deeper into the vaults. Fortunato, who is known for his love of wine, eagerly agrees to accompany Montresor to his underground vaults to sample the wine.Īs they make their way through the catacombs, Montresor begins to ply Fortunato with wine, urging him to drink more.

He meets Fortunato at a carnival and tells him that he has acquired a cask of rare Amontillado wine and needs his expertise to determine its authenticity. Montresor begins by describing how he has been wronged by Fortunato and expresses his desire for revenge. The story takes place in an unnamed European city, during the carnival season, and follows the narrator, Montresor, as he seeks revenge on his acquaintance, Fortunato.

'The Cask of Amontillado' is a short story by Edgar Allan Poe, first published in 1846.

Analysis of the cask of amontillado