Question

How does Poe describe the characters in "The Cask of Amontillado" to seem like real people?

Answer 1

@superhelp101 @Call~Me~Addi

Answer 2

I read Poe's short story.. but are there any given options? :P

Answer 3

No, it's like a short response.

Answer 4

Based on what I remember....



MONTRESOR:

Montresor, the narrator, was brought to life because we saw the story through HIS perspective... but an outside observer would assume he's not a very reliable narrator... if he admits to lying and killing, he's not exactly someone the reader can trust - he's not completely sane. Clearly a cold and wicked killer. This was expressed through his whole plot and actions of luring his former friend, Fortunato, to an underground maze of tunnels and tombs. He's all more crazy because, down there, he locks him in chains and walls him up to die. Those aren't actions someone that's "all mentally there" would have done. The reader can't really find much sympathy with Montresor, because, well, how many of us have really tricked someone to their death? Despite the fact that we will want revenge at some point in our life, MOST of us are not willing to go as far as murder. And since the story is a flasback, 50 years AFTER the actual event... the question is: Is Montresor ~confessing his sins OR ~bragging about his crime? Because, in case we're bragging, we want people to admire us for it, to show off our own wit... but if we're confessing, it just means we're aiming for forgivenesss, and for freeing ourselves from that burden. That's really up to the reader and his/her interpretation of the character, but whatever the answer... it will help us further determine his personality. We could tell that, either way, this is a secret that Montresor STRONGLY wanted reveal.



FORTUNATO:

Although Forunato might seem to be the "easier" character to determine... he truly isn't - much more complicated than Monstresor (as well as the reader!) saw him. Fortunato was brought to life with Monstresor's description of him. Some of what it was direct, while others we had to figure out ourselves. Monstresor sees him and explains to the reader through his narration that Forunato is conceited because of his knowledge of wine and wealth. We see how drink after drink of wine that Montresor provides for him leads Fortunato to becoming less aware of what was going on around him - very vulnerable to Montresor. It was a smart and wicked skill, because the narrator is quite aware of Fortunato's wine addiction and "Amontillado" was all he was looking forward to throughout the enitre underground journey. Fortunato is ALSO a tad bit insensitive - he ignores Montresor's anger at him and despite ALL those drinks he didnt even thank him. Even though Montresor gave him NO reason to not trust him, Fortunato should have put a bit less trust in the masked man. Forunato's personality is all more complicated with the twisted ending~

Answer 5

D:!!!

I Apologize if that was TMI /.\

Got carried away, but only because I LOVE response to literature - i get to express my thoughts and ideas of the story cx

Anyhow ~Good Luck *^-^