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“The Cask of Amontillado” Essay Revenge is taken for many silly reasons; this is shown in the short story, “The Cask of Amontillado”, by Edgar Allan Poe. Montresor has been hurt many times by Fortunado so in the story, Montresor takes revenge on Fortunado and kills him. Edgar Allan Poe demonstrates irony in “The Cask of Amontillado”. Irony is when something happens, but you expected the exact opposite, Edgar Allan Poe used irony by having Montresor pretend to care about Fortunado , by making comments about Fortunado , and by Montresor saying he wants Fortunado to have a long life.
First, Edgar Allan Poe uses Irony “The Cask of Amontillado”, when Montresor pretends to care about Fortunado. To illustrate, Montresor tries to convince Fortunado to go to the catacombs so he can kill him. “‘My friend, no, I will not impose upon your good nature'” (Poe 213). This is an example of verbal irony because Montresor says he does not want to impose, or take advantage of Fortunado. The audience recognizes that this is not true and in fact, it is the opposite that is true. The reader knows that Montresor wants to take advantage of Fortunado because he wants to lure him down, and kill him.
Therefore, this is verbal irony because Montresor says the exact opposite of what he really means. Next, Edgar Allan Poe uses irony when the narrator made comments about Fortunado. Fortunado and Montresor are in the catacombs and Montresor is convincing Fortunado to go back up, using reverse psychology. “‘I shall not die of a cough. ‘ ‘True- true”‘ (Poe 214). This is dramatic irony because Montresor says true- true because the audience and he knows Fortunado will not die of a cough. Fortunado will die because Montresor will murder him.
Consequently, this is dramatic irony because the audience knew that Fortunado was going to get killed, but Fortunado did not know that. Finally, Edgar Allan Poe uses irony by saying he wants Fortunado to live a long life. Montresor and Fortunado are drinking wine and making a toast. Montresor toasted to Fortunado living a long life. He says, “‘And I toast to your long life”‘ (Poe 214). This is verbal irony because Montresor says he hopes that Fortunado lives a long life, but when he says that, he is just tricking Fortunado because he is going to kill him, and he will not live a ong life. Thus, by Montresor saying he wants Fortunado to live a long life, is verbal irony because Fortunado is going to die soon from Montresor killing him. In conclusion Edgar Allan Poe used Irony in “The Cask of Amontillado” when Montresor pretends to care about Fortunado. Also, when Montresor makes comments about Fortunado. Finally, when Montresor says he wants Fortunado to live a long life. So Edgar Allan Poe uses a lot of irony and these are three major examples he uses in his short story, “The Cask of Amontillado”.