Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Revenge A Bittersweet Victory Essay - 1055 Words

This story of the most heinous revenge is, like all stories by Edgar Allen Poe, very open to interpretation. One thing that cannot be disputed, though, is the theme. The fundamental theme of The Cask of Amontillado is revenge. While the reasons the main character, Montresor, desires revenge are rather unclear, the reasons for his motivation are not. The way he executes his plans also exemplifies a clever use of deception to amplify his vengeance. Unfortunately, though, the aftermath of his actions proved far less gratifying than what he foresaw. These elements of revenge consume this story in the usual vague and mysterious manner which we so often see with Poe. Because this story is told in first person perspective from Montresor’s†¦show more content†¦This message is also conveyed through the Montresor family crest, which shows a snake biting the very foot that is crushing it. The snake in this case, is Montresor, who does not let his attacker get away with the attac k. Overall, Montresor’s craving for vengeance is derived from the pride he feels for his family. Montresor satisfied these cravings by plotting and executing the perfect revenge. The reason Montresor killed Fortunato in the catacombs was because of his intense family pride. Because in Montresor’s mind Fortunato had insulted his family, he saw the catacombs as the perfect place to kill him so they could, in a sense, witness the event. That way his actions avenge them as well as himself. As to the reason for the method of live entrapment he used to kill Fortunato, it comes not from Montresor, but instead from the author himself. During the time Poe published this story, the fear of being buried alive was very real among the masses. In fact, some cemeteries would place bells on the limbs of the recently deceased, so if they were accidentally buried alive, they would have a chance to be rescued. This has a very strong connection to the story because the last sound Montr esor hears coming from Fortunato’s tomb is the bells on his hat jingling. From this information we can infer that Poe shared the popular fear and felt that is was one of the worst things that could happen to a person, making it the perfect methodShow MoreRelatedMississippi Burning Character Essay2000 Words   |  8 Pagesthe movie; starting with the scene in the car where Anderson’s joking nature is not appreciated by Ward, who tells him to â€Å"just read the file,† and culminating in a tense encounter in which Ward pulls a gun to Anderson’s head when Anderson seeks revenge for Pell beating his wife. However, this confrontation leads to Ward accepting Anderson’s unconventional methods – an interesting character development for Ward, as it indicates he possesses more flexibility than he first appears to. It is the developmentRead MoreThe Legacy Of Abraham Lincoln1883 Words   |  8 Pagesnomination after much turmoil. Southern Democrats sp lit from the party and nominated John C. Breckinridge as their presidential candidate. A third party, the Constitutional Union, nominated John Bell. The competition amongst the Democrats led to a Lincoln victory and subsequently the disintegration of the Union. (Bailey Drifting 424-426). Four days after Lincoln’s election, South Carolina seceded from the Union. Six states followed suit: Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas. TheseRead MoreAndrew Jackson: A Man of Contradition Essay2210 Words   |  9 Pageslife and this would include becoming General Jackson for the Tennessee militia. One of the most significant battles occurred during the War of 1812. Jackson’s hatred for the British had begun during his early years. The Revolution left him wanting revenge for the losses he suffered and blamed on the British. This war was the chance he had been waiting for. The Creek War took place inside of the War of 1812 and it is included by historians as a part of the War of 1812. Jackson and his men who includedRead More Comparing the Hero in Sophocles Oedipus the King, Homers Odyssey, and Tans Joy Luck Club2133 Words   |  9 Pagesin my hall with everyone I love best, safe and sound! (Homer 361)    Additionally, the mere fact that the gods and the other characters are in favor of Odysseus return home makes him a mythic hero. The mood of the story is one of victory, in which the best is yet to come. Odysseus revels in the feeling of eventual success because the other characters in the story are all on his side. Athena and some other gods and goddesses intervene into Odysseus journey, confirming the happyRead MoreDiscuss to What Extent the Monster in Frankenstein Is Portrayed as a Tragic Hero?3265 Words   |  14 Pagestragic hero has the potential for greatness but is doomed to fail. He is trapped in a situation where he cannot win. He makes some sort of tragic flaw, and this causes his fall from greatness. Even though he is a fallen hero, he still wins a moral victory and his spirit lives on. Most tragic heroes if not all are born into a state of nobility, are responsible for their own fate and are doomed to make a serious error in judgement. It is unfortunate what the films using the name Frankenstein haveRead More The New Woman in Fanu’s Carmilla, Stoker’s Dracula, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer2496 Words   |  10 PagesDracula, the novel also implies that the New Woman and what she represents will endure. Count Dracula, the one responsible for creating these New Woman vampire characters in the novel, taunts the male characters with a crucial revelation, claiming, â€Å"My revenge is just begun! I spread it over centuries, and time is on my side† (Stoker 263). Indeed, Dracula’s promised threat comes true. The New Woman does resurface, biting back in a revamped, contemporary, and above all culturally acceptable form. This NewRead MoreWalts Whitmans Vision of America in Leaves of Grass17685 Words   |  71 PagesAnd†©that†©is†©the†©theme†©of†©War,†©the†©fortune†©of†©battles,†© The†©making†©of†©perfect†©soldiers.†© Be†©it†©so,†©then†©I†©answerd,†© I†©too†©haughty†©Shade†©also†©sing†©war,†©and†©a†©longer†©and†©greater†©one†©than†©any,†© Waged†©in†©my†©book†©with†©varying†©fortune,†©with†©flight,†©advance†©and†©retreat,†©victory†© 15†©Ã¢â‚¬ © deferrd†©and†©wavering,†© (Yet†©methinks†©certain,†©or†©as†©good†©as†©certain,†©at†©the†©last,)†©the†©field†©the†©world,†© For†©life†©and†©death,†©for†©the†©Body†©and†©for†©the†©eternal†©Soul,†© Lo,†©I†©too†©am†©come,†©chanting†©the†©chant†©of†©battles,†© I†©above†©all†©promote†©brave†©soldiers

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.