In The Cask of Amatillado, Poe takes his audience on a downward journey to the depths of the diabolical human spirit. The audience is left horror stricken and psychologically intrigued by the motivation and actions of the protagonist Montresor.
The movement of the narration begins before the two characters enter the catacombs in search of the elusive Luchesi. The setting of the tale is that of a Mardi Gras type festival. All individuals are dressed in costume and no one is aware of the true identity of anyone else. Disguise becomes one of the most important aspects of this tale.
Element of Disguise, Sin and Illusion
Since both Montresor and Fortunato are in disguise, no one is aware that the two have met or that they leave together. Such anonymity is tremendously important to Montresor’s plan.
Another important element is that Mardi Gras is often viewed as a ‘sinful time of the year.’ A time of excess, such as this festival, provides the opportunity for people to party to the fullest as a last go around before a new beginning. The combination of disguise and inhibition begs the question, what better time for Montresor to commit a murder?
The tale starts with a setting that symbolizes something other than reality. In the carnival atmosphere there are no rules. There are no individuals. Everyone present at the carnival is pretending to be someone else and there are no ties for that individual in the ‘real world.’
Montresor's Diabolical Nature
When the narrative opens, Montresor confesses his vengeful attitude towards Fortunato. He says, “The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult, I vowed revenge … I would be avenged.”
The catacombs are dark, damp and narrow with low ceilings and slim passageways. Bones line the walls and are piled in heaps in the various places that space will allow. Essentially, the catacombs represent a burial chamber. Symbolically, the chambers represent a type of Hell. The characters are surrounded by death and an atmosphere of despair.
Montresor feels the catacombs a fitting place to bring about the demise of Fortunato – after all, these are his family’s vaults. Like the grave, the vaults present a very claustrophobic atmosphere.
A Dark Abyss
It is clear to the audience that Montresor is in a state of immense unhappiness. With the murder of Fortunato and walling up the body in the catacombs, the audience could imagine that the act is symbolic of Montresor walling up some aspect of himself.
Similar to the physical downward movement of Montresor, there is also a downward movement to his convictions both morally, psychologically and ethically. Though the audience is never directly informed of his convictions, his actions define his character and desperation.
The Detachment of Montresor
Montresor doesn’t exhibit any real emotion to indicate that he is remorseful or ashamed of what he has done. If anything, Montresor feels justified and, in a sense, relieved when the act is done.
His comments following the act are a bit ambiguous. There is one moment of hesitation, although it is difficult to distinguish if this moment is representative of a morbid sense of humor or genuine emotion. Montresor describes a low, guttural laugh that escapes him which causes his hair to stand on end. But he continues on with this deed unhindered by any reaction whatsoever.
He later gloats that for half a century no mortal had disturbed the bones which he laid there. Such commentary could imply a braggart, or one who is genuinely unnerved that no one had found the grave. It is left up to the audience to determine their own meaning.
Poe, Edgar Allan. The Tell-Tale Heart and Other Writings. New York: Bantam Books, 1982.
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