New Criticism: the Cask of Amontillado

New Criticism analyzes the text using the actual text. New Criticism focuses on the work itself and does not consider the reader, when or where it was written and the author’s background and intention. Being a new critic means to look for themes, tension, ironies, symbolism, and ultimately if the piece is unified. New Criticism is not about reading in-between the lines but looking closely the text and examining it to the fullest. This type of criticism goes exceptionally well with the “Cask of Amontillado”.

The “Cask of Amontillado” follows the traditional form of having a beginning, middle, and an end. This story is told from first person narrative, the character of Montresor. Montresor is an unreliable source, he is mentally unstable and also because he tries to make his thoughts and intentions seem reasonable and that Fortunato deserves what is coming to him “…when he ventured upon insult, I vowed revenge” (Poe 411). However, it is never said what Fortunato exactly did to Montresor.

There are many ironies in this short story one being the title. The “Cask of Amontillado” if broken down would mean the red wine barrel however to take it to a deeper level the Cask is from the word “casket” and Amontillado is the downfall of Fortunato. Their names are also ironic because in Italian Fortunato means the “fortunate one”. However, he is nothing of the sort. Another irony is the costume Fortunato is wearing during the carnival. He is dressed as a jester, however Montresor is the one fooling him to his death.

There were three themes is this short story revenge, pride, and deception. Revenge is consistently talked about from beginning to end. Montresor says “At length I would be avenged” (411). Montresor wants revenge on Fortunato for his many injures and the insults. “ I must not only punish, but punish with impunity”(411). Pride is another major theme because these two characters how so much pride in who they are and what they do. Fortunato’s pride is in his...