Edgar Allen Poe's "A Cask of Amontillado" places a heavy emphasis on setting. Although much of the setting takes place inside Montresor's, the narrator, family catacomb some inferences can be made. The country that the story takes place is Italy. Montresor describes the attitudes of his acquaintances and Fortunato as lacking in "the true virtuoso spirit", and that, "their enthusiasm is adopted to suit the time and opportunity..." (525). This attitude that influential Italians maintain, as well as Fortunato, holds significance in that it reveals their slyness.
Further in the story, Montresor looks for Fortunato in a carnival festival. Both men are dressed for the occasion, however, Montresor pays little attention to anything happening around him except for mentioning that it is chaotic. This zeal toward finding Fortunato reveals how deeply Montresor despises Fortunato because of the intent he Montresor has once he finds him. The time of day, Dusk, also signals the ending of the day, and the ending of life. The fact that Fortunato is at the festival, dressed in what seems as a jester's outfit, could also suggest how foolish he really is.
Montresor describes how he leads Fortunato through, "...several suites of rooms to the archway that led into the vaults", and then, "...passed down a long winding staircase..." (526). the lengthy description of how isolated the area Montresor is leading Fortnato toward foreshadows the ending. It can be thought that the reader is delving into the mind of Montresor, a well hidden catacomb full of death that is damp, dark and cold.
As soon as Fortunato enters the catacomb, his cold makes him have a violent reaction because of the nitre that has formed on the walls, further strengthening the notion of how damp Montresor's catacomb is. The catacomb also appears to be symbolic, drawing a parallel between Montresor and the illness that is slowly tearing away at Fortunato's health. They are both silent, deadly killers.
As the two men reach the end of the increasingly dampening catacomb, Fortunato runs into a wall that marks the very end of the catacomb, the nearing end of the story, and the ending of his life. After Montresor shackles Fortunato, he begins the to close the entrance to the small room, or niche, with bricks. Fortunato cries as each layer is placed, symbolic of his impending doom. At one point during the story, Montresor seems to hesitate at the thought of what he is doing. It is the settings, the catacombs, that revives the animosity toward Fortunato that drives him Forward.
Finally, as midnight approaches, Montresor places the last brick. Both time and setting are utilized to end Fortunato's life.
Poe does place heavy emphasis on setting. Reading through it was so detailed that it made me envision a very dark ending. You pointed out that the lengthy description of the isolated area foreshadows the ending and i agree with you, Along with the isolation he describes the spaces getting smaller and smaller, essentially farther away from fresh air and freedom which i also thought added to foreshadowing of the ending. nice analysis
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