Revenge Theme in “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Conclusion
References

Introduction

Fortunato has insulted Montresor, the narrator of “the Cask of Amontillado”. He, therefore, decides to seek revenge, but he wants to be careful in order not to risk his life. Fortunato seems to be fond of wine against Montresor, and he decides to use this as his weapon. The offender eagerly waits to taste the wine, which his friend plans to use to kill him silently.

It seems clear that the law does not exist in this book. Instead, when a person offends the other, revenge seems to be the best remedy. Montresor revenges in a way Fortunato could not have suspected. He befriends him by inviting him for the wine and he keeps on calling referring to him as “my friend”. However, his intentions are to kill him through starvation and dehydration.

When Fortunato nears death, he tells Montresor, “for the love of God….” This implies that he was already desperate because, for a long time, he has not religious. Indeed, he has insulted and injured his friend several times. Montrestor starts by saying that he had borne several injuries, but he could not stand the insult. This makes him revenge against his friend by killing him.

Passion of revenge seems strong and can be overwhelming at times. Revenge can be dangerous, twisted, and conflicted. It can also be said to be destructive response towards anger, humiliation, or injury. Many people will avenge to show pride after a shameful experience.

Different religions, governments, cultures and traditions clarify the cases when the revenge is applicable. A person will revenge as a way of self-defense in response to humiliation or anger. Revenge should however, be the last alternative. Strategies of revenge aim at changing the past.

This explains why most of them end up failing since an insult or injury, humiliation and any other loss cannot be mended. The avenger tries to assert dominance yet dominance cannot increase stature. Instead, revenge increases violence. Instead of revenging, an individual should seek forgiveness (Poe & Kelley, 2008).

Revenge occurs when an individual feels that he has suffered a loss; hence the feelings of hate, anger, envy, jealousy, or shame. It can also occur when a person feels humiliated making them feel powerless, stupid, foolish, or ridiculous. Some other people will revenge to defend their honor, either that of themselves, their ancestors, family, or a group that gives them identity.

The main aim of revenge is restoration of pride after suffering humiliation, and through erasing shame. Revenge makes an individual feel that his dignity has been restored. Most people have been ignored, unlucky, overlooked and picked on, cheated, injured, and trespassed, among others.

Other people undergo serious experiences such as rape, abuse, assault, or violent crimes, most of which are often unfair. In most cases, victims believe that somebody should be blamed for being responsible of their sufferings. Such mentality make a person feel that things should be put back to track.

Justice appears to have been done when a victim is compensated for a loss, which he suffered. Legitimacy of grievances exists and victims need to be compensated. Accumulation of grievances makes people revenge against each other resulting in such emotions as rage, violence, irresponsibility, etc.

People very often do not feel their responsibility for some of their actions if there is someone who can be blamed for their offences. It is Important to note is that losses cannot be repaired since they are permanent. The best thing would be trying to absorb, overlook, and accept the losses without considering revenge.

Conclusion

This narration tries to show that people should avoid insulting others since they can decide to revenge, and defeat the offender. It can also be possible that after revenge an individual can experience guilt feelings, which can haunt him forever. At times, people go to extremes of killing a person simply because they wronged them.

Fortunato did not imagine that, at one time, he would be defeated by Montresor. We see that he injured him ten thousand times and Montresor did not respond even for a single day. However, the insulting hurt him and he could not take it anymore. This happened when Fortunato insulted him. In the discussion above, an insult can lead to revenge and indeed this was the case in this narration.

It should also be noted that Fortunato was killed with what he loved most. He loved wine very much and would openly express his pride. Montresor, therefore, could trap him easily using wine because he knew that his friend could not hesitate. After the revenge, we realize that Montresor needed his friend. This comes out clearly, when he desperately screams his friend’s name twice (Poe & Kelley, 2008).

Finally, people must avoid hurting others since this leads to revenge. Revenge can be of a higher magnitude than the injury or insult. For example, in this narration, we see that revenge came in the form of death, meaning total defeat. Once again, wronging a person’s friend can be fatal since these people understand our weak points and can easily revenge.

It was also wrong for Montresor to revenge since we see that he needed his friend, even though he did not want to admit. In the end, having killed Fortunato, he concludes by saying “rest in peace”. Instead of carrying out revenge, people should learn to forgive their offenders. Offenders should, as well, learn to apologize. This would ensure harmony in the society since there would be no revenge.

References

Poe, E. A., & Kelley, G. (2008). The cask of Amontillado. Mankato, Minn.: Creative Education.

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Revenge Theme in “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe

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