Wednesday, April 16, 2008
The Cask
I have read The Cask of Amontillado many times, and I actually discussed it in one of my recent classes. I was thinking about that and remembered that we had talked about the ending and how it ends with Montresor calling in after Fortunato. Is it remorseful? Does he only realize once his wall is almost finished that he needs Fortunato in his life? ("to these words I harkened in vain for a reply.") Everyone has established that Montresor is an unreliable narrator and because of the fact that we don't know what crimes Fortunato committed against him some assume that he is crazy. What do you think? Also I remember talking in class about reasons why there is no response from Fortunato. Is he dead? Is this his final "win" over Montresor? The fact that he is not speaking could suggest that Fortunato has the upper hand because he is still controlling the situation. This may be far-fetched but it does say that he had sobered up... What do you think?
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2 comments:
I think that Montressor is definately an unreliable narrator, not only because we do not know the crime Fortunado committed(what an ironic name!, but it took place 50 years prior- his memory would definately not be as sharp nor reliable.
I also think that Fortunado not responding to his murderer definately gives him the upper hand. I do not think Montressor is remorseful, he just wants to make sure his deed is done. I was wondering why Montressor said at the end, "May he rest in peace"- why would he want that?
I agree that Montressor is an unreliable narrator. However, I wondered if he chose not to hear Fortunado. I think that he, (Montressor), was sobering and if Fortunado had answered and he heard, it would have added to his guilt about being a murderer. He would have been plagued by his inaction, whereas, had Montressor heard Fortunado, he would have been bound to set him free. This last sentence of "May he rest in peace" adds to the thought that Fortunado needed to be seen as already dead by the narrator and that this hope in eternal peace was not only for Fortunado, but himself as well.
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