The Impact of Setting in the Cask of Amontillado (Essay Sample)

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The Impact of Setting in the Cask of Amontillado
The Cask of Amontillado is a horror that was written by Edgar Allan Poe (Poe). The story features the actions of a character named Montressor. The entirety of the story is focused on depicting the means via which he avenges himself against Fortunato, who is his former friend. Poe does not appreciate the need to highlight the reasons behind the need to avenge himself against his friend. Throughout the entirety of the story, the audience thus has to contend with the omission of this critical information. The only hint that has been availed by the author is that he, Fortunato, had ventured upon insult. In luring him to the family catacombs, Montressor uses the cask of Amontillado, which is a term used in reference to a barrel of Spanish sherry that had been highly prized. Montressor then kills his friend by constructing a burial barrier around Fortunato. Aside from the horror associated with the actual crime, the setting of the story, which is in reference to the time and place, adds on the story’s horror.
The story is initiated in an unknown European city. Poe may have strived to enhance the overall appeal of the story by not naming the city where the crime took place. The story is set during dusk at a time of the carnival season. From the onset, the author creates the image of a city that is rather lighthearted given the activities that accompany a carnival festival. Poe then changes from this lighthearted atmosphere to one that is gloomy. From the carnival, the lighthearted scene is transformed into the damp, dark catacombs characterizing Montressor’s palazzo. Such a transformation aids in depicting the sinister atmosphere that will feature in a vast extent of the story’s thematic setting.
The book is a story of revenge. It features the actions of the protagonist as it pertains to killing his friend. For reasons that are not clearly highlighted, Montressor murders his friend in the catacombs of his family home. Montressor is motivated by the need to adhere to the motto that has been adopted by his family. In line with this tenet, it becomes important for him to ensure that his victim is aware of what is happening. It seems that meeting this goal will ensure that he avenges his friend to the full extent. In a sadistic manner, he derives pleasure from the suffering he instills into his friend. The death comes in a procedural manner. It is important for Montressor to ensure that Fortunato is able to understand and become aware of the inevitability of escape. The murder has been planned in a careful and sinister manner. The setting in which the story is set aids in amplifying the horror of the story.
Writers strive to use setting to amplify the effects of the theme. Poe has used setting to make the story more appealing and sensational to the audience. As a result, the audience is able to create an image of the scene when Montressor murders his friend. The gloomy and dark nature of the story thus ensures that the audience is able to mesh into the story. In this way, the probability of meeting the goal of the story is significantly amplified. Up to the eventual death of Fortunato, there is an increasing atmosphere of horror. Throughout the entirety of the text, the audience is able to sustain their fear pertaining to what is going to happen to the victim. In the unfolding sequence of events, the audience is given the power to predict albeit with fear the impending doom. Such a capability is realized mainly via Poe’s use of time and place.
The physical time that has been used in the story aids in amplifying the tension characterizing the story. The setting of the carnival provides a means via which disguise can be used as a tool to perpetrate the crime. Using the carnival as a cover, Montressor is able to lure his friend to his death. The setting then reduces the probability of anyone identifying him as the companion who had walked away with Fortunato. The setting of the carnival also gives the story some sense of mystic. While the audience expects the theme of the indulgence and fun to be existent throughout the entirety of the text, Poe shows that the indulgence that is characteristic of carnivals is just a cover for crime and evil.
During the initial stages of the story, Montressor sets the scene by stating that he has revenge on his mind. When he continues to assert that it was at dusk during the madness of the carnival season, he simply positions the audience to expect a further deterioration of the situation. First, the audience becomes aware of the core intent of Montressor’s actions. When he asserts that it was dusk, the darkness of the setting becomes immediately apparent. A sense of horror is then fashioned by the simple set of statements. A stream of fear is then instigated before the actual murder is depicted. In essence, the setting aids in amplifying the horror of the actions. Aside from this, Montressor asserts that there is supreme madness in the area. Such a statement amplifies the degree of uncertainty and suspense that characterizes the story.
The carnival bells have been used in a manner that they enhance the terror in the story. They have been referenced several times in the story. The effect of the carnival bells has been amplified during the final scenes when the murder was being committed. As Montressor lures his friend to his death, Poe creates the image of ringing carnival bells. The result is the creation of fear and terror that is reminiscent of horror tales. The story takes in a freakish turn as the bells keep ringing as Fortunato is being led to his ultimate demise.
The damp vaults have also been used to amplify the freakish nature of the story. The damp vaults have been referenced a total of five times in the text. The damp vaults have been described as being extremely suffocating. As one descends further into the damp vaults, there is difficulty in breathing. Montressor uses the cover of the damp vaults to instigate further inebriation of his victim. By positioning himself as a concerned friend, Fortunato is convinced to further inebriate himself. Therefore, the damp vaults played a pertinent role in motivating further inebriation and Fortunato’s ultimate demise. Such a setting then fashions an environment of terror while aiding in compelling the audience to relate with Fortunato’s fear and awareness of impending doom. The sadistic and inhumane nature of Montressor’s character is depicted by his assertion that he grew sick after committing the crime. Such an assertion is used in reference to the damp state of the vaults and is thus not related to the negative feelings emanating from committing murder.
Poe points out that in the underground setting, the air was rife with niter. Resear...