Sunday, June 16, 2013

In "The Cask of Amontillado" can you find any evidence of humor in the story?

Although a very disturbing tale of revenge gone too far, there are elements of humor to "The Cask of Amontillado."   First of all, Poe puts the bumbling Fortunado in a jester's outfit.  Court jesters were paid comedians to entertain kings at at all times; typically, they dressed in very bright, absurd outfits in order to be amusing and entertaining.  And, they wore hats that had little jingling bells all over them--so, they jingled as they walked about.  Fortunado's particular hat was "conical," so, shaped like a big cone on his head--very comical.  It is hard not to be amused, in a sad sort of way, picturing Fortunado in this absurd outfit, jingling around in the catacombs.  Poe writes,



"The gait of [Fortunado] was unsteady, and the bells upon his cap jingled as he strode."



So, there is Fortunado's outfit that is a bit funny.  Also, Montresor, though not trying to be, is a bit funny at times.  He leads Fortunado through the house, which is empty.  Normally, the house would have been full of servants, and hence witnesses to the fact that he was leading Fortunado down to the catacombs.  How did he get them to leave?  He knew their natures well.  He states,



"I had told them that I should not return until the morning, and had given them explicit orders not to stir from the house. These orders were sufficient, I well knew, to insure their immediate disappearance, one and all, as soon as my back was turned."



This is a rather amusing commentary on the situation at hand.  Tell the servants they'd better not leave, which ensured their departure.  In addition to little quips like this, Montresor's very intensity is a bit funny, also in a sad satirical sort of way.  He can't have revenge, he must "punish with impunity."  And, how DARE Fortunado "insult" him!!  The audacity!  Of course the ONLY conclusion to draw is that Fortunado must die a slow, painful, terrifying death.  Yes, that's what a sane human being would conclude....Montresor is so extreme in his hatred and avowal of revenge that it is almost ridiculous.


Those are just a few moments of potential humor in the tale; I am sure that there are many more, but that should get you started.  Good luck!

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