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Cask Of Amontillado

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A story that aims to frighten will attempt to develop an ambience that evokes uncertainty. It must create scenes that exhibit verisimilitude; it is a necessity to contain details that add to realism. The Cask of Amontillado is a fictional horror that presents the act of premeditated murder, biased revenge, and injustice. All of which are elevated by the imagery presented within the setting. The setting of The Cask of Amontillado plays a crucial role in the narrative; it is not merely a backdrop setting, but it is integral. The events would be completely altered if placed in another locale. Edgar Allan Poe is a man known for his strange and macabre works. His writing is greatly influenced by Gothic literature hence the abundance of Gothic …show more content…

3; names are Italian) partaking in carnival festivities. This, however, is only a superficial description. Looking closely at the text, there are fine details that give The Cask of Amontillado its own flavor. One of which is the time mentioned. It is explicitly stated that the story takes place at dusk (866, par. 4). The idea of dusk gives a sense of darkness to the story; it adds to the obscure and lurid atmosphere Poe intends to produce. Aside from that, the story begins in a carnival (866, par. 4). Typically, carnivals are colorful and chaotic. This gives contrast and emphasis to the further proceedings that come in the …show more content…

It is actually a Catholic festival. Carnival came from the Italian word, carnevale. To further break it down, carn in Latin means flesh while levare means put away (Oxford Dictionary). The word carnival, therefore, literally means “putting away of the flesh”. This Catholic festival began in Italy as a source of indulgence before the start of the Lenten season. It is a chaotic and unruly tradition wherein people exercise their freedom to indulge in the desires of the flesh. This can be in forms of alcoholism (which was abundant in the late 1840s), food, loud parties, and noise in general. All self-control and sobriety are forgotten in traditional carnivals; it is supreme madness. It is the perfect alibi for Montresor because everyone would be in the carnival. It would be so chaotic that no one would know where everyone else is. No one would be sober enough to realize that Montresor and Fortunato are gone. The carnival was a merriment done to say farewell to meat which in this case is

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