Sunday, August 19, 2012

How does the meaning of Montresor's name in "The Cask of Amontillado" relate to what "makes" him seek revenge upon Fortunato?

While most studies of irony focus on the ironic meaning of Fortunato's name in "The Cask of Amontillado," the symbolism in Montresor's name is often overlooked.  In the Romance languages, Montresor's name literally means "to show fate."  At the beginning of the story, Montresor states why he desires Fortunato's downfall.  He tells the reader that



"the thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult, I vowed revenge."



This is the only clue that Montresor offers in regards to his motive in killing Fortunato.  If a family feud truly existed between the two men, it was so long ago that Montresor doesn't mention specifics, or so one-sided that Fortunato does not even recognize the danger that Montresor presents. Montresor seems to be keeping track of Fortunato's supposed insults against him and sees it as his fate to cause Fortunato to meet his fate. 


Montresor is obviously another one of Poe's unreliable narrators, and Poe might have chosen the name to demonstrate that mentally unstable people often view themselves as more important than they are--Montresor must lead another to his fate just like the narrator of "The Black Cat" must destroy anything that bothers him and then "outsmart" the police.

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