For August 14, 2015
by Edgar Allan Poe
1. Characters:
* He had a weak point -- this Fortunato -- although in other regards he was a man to be respected and even feared. He prided himself on his connoisseurship in wine... In painting and gemmary, Fortunato, like his countrymen was a quack -- but in the matter of old wines he was sincere.
* Montresor -- the narrator and Fortunato's friend.
2. Setting:
I took from their sconces two flambeaux, and giving one to Fortunato, bowed him through several suites to the archway that led into the vaults. I passed down a long and winding staircase, requesting him to be cautious as he followed. We came at length to the foot of the descent, and stood together on the damp ground of the catacombs of the Montresors... We had passed through the walls of the piled bones, with casks and puncheons intermingling, into the inmost recesses of the catacombs.
3. Theme:
Revenge cannot bring satisfaction to a man's heart.
4. Point of View:
First person point of view was used in the story.
5. Plot:
a. Introduction
The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could; but when he ventured upon insult, I vowed revenge. You, who so well know the nature of my soul, will not suppose, however, that I gave utterance to a threat. At length I would be avenged; this was a point definitively settled -- but the very definitiveness with which it was resolved, precluded the idea of risk.
b. Conflict
I must not only punish, but punish with impunity. A wrong is unredressed when retribution overtakes its redresser. It is equally unredressed when the avenger fails to make himself as such to him who has done the wrong... It must be understood that neither by word nor deed had I given Fortunato cause to doubt my good will. I continued, as was my wont, to smile in his face, and he did not perceive that my smile now was at the thought of his immolation.
c. Rising Action
It was about dusk, one evening during the supreme madness of the carnival season, that I encountered my friend. He accosted me with excessive warmth, for he had been drinking much...
...I said to him: "My dear Fortunato, you are luckily met. How remarkably well you are looking today! But what I have received a pipe of what passes for Amontillado, and I have my doubts..."
..."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."
d. Climax
In an instant he had reached the extremity of the niche, and finding his progress arrested by the rock, stood stupidly bewildered. A moment more and I had fettered him to the granite. In its surface were two iron staples, distant from each other about two feet, horizontally. From one of these depended a short chain, from the other a pad lock. Throwing the links about his waist, it was but the work of a few seconds to secure it. He was too much astounded to resist. Withdrawing the key I stepped back from the recess...
...A succession of loud and shrill screams, bursting suddenly from the throat of the chained form, seemed to thrust me violently back.
e. Falling Action
It was now midnight, and my task was drawing to a close... But now there came from out the niche a lowly laugh that erected the hairs upon my head. It was succeeded by a sad voice, which I had difficulty in recognizing as that of the noble Fortunato. The voice said --
...But to these words I hearkened in vain for a reply. I grew impatient. I called aloud:
"Fortunato!"
No answer. I called again:
"Fortunato!"
No answer still.
f. Resolution
My heart grew sick -- on the account of the dampness of the catacombs. I hastened to make an end of my labor. I forced the last stone into its position; I plastered it up again. Against the new masonry I re-erected the old rampart of bones. For the half of a century no mortal has disturbed them. In pace requiescat!
#creativewriting2k15
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