Symbolism Assignment

Jon Ambrose

English 2010

Professor Grimes

3/7/2013

Symbolism of “The Cask of Amontillado”

The story of “The Cask of Amontillado” is filled with symbolism. The symbolic element I have chosen is place. The setting of “The Cask of Amontillado” holds great significance to the story, the mystery, and to horror that takes place. The setting and place in this story truly gives rise to strong emotion and fear when the main character resorts to the murder of a friend in such a gruesome manner. The place of murder is clearly symbolic of the emotion that Poe wanted to create when he wrote this story.

In Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado” the main character Montresor has heard about a great insult that his friend, Fortunato, has spoken about him. Montresor then carefully plots a plan to murder his friend Fortunato because of this great insult. The place that Montresor decides to murder Fortunato becomes very symbolic. Montresor has decided to murder his friend Fortunato during the celebration of Carnival. Carnival is a huge celebration where thousands of people will be attending. The symbolism with this event is that there will be a large crowd, people will be imbibing in beverages, and probably getting drunk. Montresor would easily be able to carry out a murder as no one would miss his attendance with such a large crowd. Poe leads the reader symbolically down the path that Montresor is going to get away with murdering his friend simply by going unnoticed. This begins the mystery and eeriness behind Montresor’s plan. Montresor proceeds to encourage Fortunato to become intoxicated thus making it easier to lure Fortunato to the next place which is the catacombs. The catacombs are another symbolic place and give the reader a sense of a damp, dark, dreary and scary place. A place where voices can’t be heard, and where the two men could go and would still be unnoticed. The perfect place for Montresor to commit the premeditated murder of Fortunato that he had in mind. Poe...