-
Class: Class 3
School Number: 20064398
Name: Wei Yun
Character Analysis of
The Cask of Amontillado
Abstract:
The
theme
was
revealed
through
the
analysis
of
the
two
protagonists
?
characters.
Fortunato
?
s
arrogance,fatuity are embodied in his language,
behaviour and appearance. As to
Montresor, his obduracy is vividly
displayed step by step in his
“
< br>perfect
”
plan, he has
lost the
basic humanity, he is the
victim of the industrial society.
Key Words:
character,
arrogant, obduracy, warning, downfall
The Cask of Amontillado
is a
short story indited by Edgar Allan Poe, a famous
American
novelist, poet and essayist.
The story tells us a cliff-hanging revenge
process, which involves
two
protagonists. Fortunato, the victim of the plan,
is extremely arrogant, astrut and fatuous;
Montresor,
the
avenger
and
the
hatcher
of
the
plan,
is
over-
rational
and
marblehearted.
Through depicting the two typical
characters, Poe aims at warning the modern people
that the
high-developed industrial
society is bringing people to downfall and final
perdition.
I
would
like
to
put
Fortunato
in
the
first
place
to
analyze.
One
important
aspect
of
his
character
is
first
mention
of
him
is
indirect
description,
from
Montresor?s
narration,
we get to know that Fortunato?s weak
point
-he prides himself on his
connoisseur in
wine. We can imagine how
self-conceited Fortunato is through this artful
description. And this
is
rightly
proved
in
the
language
description
in
the
following.
“Let
us
go,
nevertheless.
The
cold
is
merely
nothing.
Amontillado!
You
have
been
imposed
upon.
And
as
for
Luchesi,
he
cannot distinguish Sherry
from Amontillado.”
When Montresor
tempts him with Amontillado
and
mentions
another
connoisseur
of
wine
Luchesi
deliberately,
Fortunato
is
so
eager
to
display
himself
that
is
easily
caught
with
chaff.
He
even
vilipends
Luchesi
to
show
his
sovereign ability. We
could see that he is immersed in his arrogance and
is totally driven by it.
And there is
also an ironic description, I notice that every
time they meet some obstacle in the
vaults, Montresor will mention Luchesi
and Fortunato immediately forgets anything and
moves
on
resolutely .It
is
his
hubris
that
leads
him
to
his
tomb,
step
by
step.
Another
obvious