Question Essay, Research Paper
Insane Or Not Insane? That Is The Question
Some people wonder is Montressor was insane in the short story of ?The Cask of Amontillado.? Well to me, he was. I say this because would a sane man want revenge on a person? Would a sane man want to kill someone in such a slow and painful way? That is the idea that is going to be discussed in this essay.
?I must not only punish but punish with impunity (p. 149) That line in itself just says that he is not a normal thinking human being. This is when he starts to make out his plan of retribution. During this time, Montressor was careful not to arouse Fortunato?s suspicions. ??Neither by word or by deed had I given Fortunato cause to doubt my good will. I continued?to smile in his face, and he did not perceive that my smile now was at the thought of his immolation (p. 149).
Fortunato had a weakness, which Montressor thought could be good for his implementing his plan. Fortunato prided himself upon being a connoisseur of fine wines. In this respect, they were both equals. So therefore, he knew that he would catch on to the bait and fall into the trap. Montressor knew that Fortunato had been drinking and this was even more of a good thing for him. He had shown his gratitude for finding Fortunato because he had just purchased a large cask of what he thinks in Amontillado, which is a dry sherry. Montressor had his doubts about its authenticity and so didn?t Fortunato. ?Amontillado?Impossible! And in the middle of a carnival!? (p. 149). Montressor then told him that he also had his doubts, that he had already paid full price and that he was sorry for not consulting with him first. He then tells Fortunato that he was on the way to Luchesi?s because he wanted to know its authenticity. That was just a piece of the bait to make Fortunato come into the trap. Fortunato was also placing himself in the trap by suggesting that they go to their vaults to taste the Amontillado.
Montressor plays like he doesn?t know what he is about to do. Most insane people do that. He claims that he and Fortunato shouldn?t go because Fortunato has a serious cold. He insisted that he stay behind because the dampness and the niter wouldn?t be good for his cough. Fortunato once again, took the bait and the plan was put into action. When they had arrived, there was no one there. All the servants were gone according to plan. Montressor kept insisting that they go back because of the niter and of Fortunato?s cough. ?We will go back; your health is precious. You are rich, respected, admired, beloved; you are happy, as once I was. For me it is no matter. WE will go back; you will be ill, and I cannot be responsible. Besides, there is Luchesi—? (p.150). But once again, He wanted to taste the Amontillado and he was putting himself closer and closer to his own death. They both kept walking and Montressor kept saying that they should go back. And Fortunato kept creeping closer to his death. The soon reached the room where the Amontillado was kept. “At the most remote end of the crypt there appeared another less spacious. Its walls had been lined with human remains…Three sides of this interior crypt were still ornamented in this manner” (p. 152). The bones had been removed from the fourth wall and were scattered around the crypt. By doing this, there was an empty
Fortunato was intoxicated at this point from all the drinks that Montressor had offered before. He then told Fortunato to enter where he then in a moment, changed him up to the granite. ?In its surface were two iron staples, distant from each other about two feet, horizontally. From one of these depended a short chain, from another a padlock. Throwing the links around about his waist, it was but the work of a few seconds to secure it? (p. 152). Fortunato was taken by surprise but too intoxicated to resist. ?The Amontillado!? Fortunato called out. ?True,? Montressor replied, ?the Amontillado? (p. 152), As those words were spoken, Montressor was carrying out the last things of his plan. Under the pile of bones were some building stones and mortar. With these and his trowel, he started closing up the entrance to the crypt. During this time, Fortunato?s intoxication started wearing off and he started to hear sloe moans coming from inside. ?There was a long obstinate silence. I laid the second tier and the third, and the fourth; and then I heard the furious vibrations of the chain. The noise lasted for several minutes, during which, that I might have hearken to it with more satisfaction? (p. 152). Now how could a sane person keep working while listening to the moaning and the movement of the chains? How could a sane person get a feeling of satisfaction from that? That is one of the things that make Montressor insane before he commits the act of inhuman murder. Just as the wall was about chest level, Montressor peeks in and then hears the ?loud and shrill screams?? that came from Fortunato. For a short time, Montressor was frightened and he trembled, but he realized that no one could hear him so he started re-echoing him. Then it grew quiet again. As the task was almost complete, a low laugh could be heard from the interior of the niche. It was accompanied by a somewhat sad voice. “Ha! ha! ha! –he! he! –A very good joke, indeed–an excellent jest. We will have many a rich laugh about it at the palazzo–he! he! he!–over our wine–he! he! he!” (p. 153). Montressor responded and echoed Fortunato’s laughter. Fortunato then reminded Montressor that it was getting late, and that people would start looking for them. “Let us be gone,” Fortunato said. “Yes, ” Montressor said, “let us be gone.” Fortunato cried out, “For the love of God, Montressor!” And he replied, “Yes. For the love of God!” (p. 152). Then there was a silence.
Montressor then called out for Fortunato, but there was no reply. He then again looked inside and he let the torch fall. ?There came forth in return only a jingling of bells. Y heart grew sick; it was the dampness of the catacombs that made it so?I forced the last stone into place?I re-ereceted the old rampart bones. For the half of a century no mortal had disturberd them?? (p. 153).
That last paragraph just shows that at the very end, he felt a little guilt, but he was too rapped up in what it was done for, that he found something else to blame for him feeling that way. This whole essay explains that he was insane. It shows you the steps and the actions that this man had done just to get revenge. No sane man would plot this out so well that no mortal hasn?t touched the ?grave? site for a half of century.