The Cask of Amontillado

The Cask of Amontillado was the only story in the class that I had read before. This made it interesting because the first time I read this story I was no where close to being a sophisticated reader. I think it was somewhere in junior high when I first read this story, but it went way over my head. I did not understand much of what was going on, and didn't know what to think of the story when it was done. Looking back on my second reading of the story, I realize how much more I absorbed while reading this time around. I understood better what was happening, and why Fortunato was killed. The first time I hardly even realized that he was murdered, never to be found again. I was more focused on the reasoning and the thought processes than the fact that it was all happening while there was a big party going on outside. 

            Montresor is very cunning in his plan, and the reader can tell that the idea is well thought out. The timing is obviously thought out, since Poe tells about it. The carnival distracts people from what is going, people are not reliable and somebody wont be missed immediately on a night like tonight. Montresor knows what to tell people to make them do what he wants. Although this is evident with his manipulation of Fotunato, it is much more evident with the servants at Montresor’s house. He knew that by telling them he wouldn’t be home during a big event, that they would leave. This shows his deep perception about human nature. Poe really understands how people work and what makes them do certain things. This is evident in his stories, and to me, is one of the reasons why they are so highly disturbing.

           

Edgar Allan Poe is an excellent author of short stories in my opinion, but he is a little to dark for my preference. I really like how he understands the psyche and what gets to a person.

Finally, I leave you with Mister Edgar Allen Bro.