Fortunato, who is not really the protagonist, has more in common with Poe than does Montresor. Fortunato most likely suffers from consumption, as did Poe's beloved young wife. Poe makes many references to Fortunato's coughing and inability to deal with the dampness of the passage. Additionally, Fortunato is drunk when Montresor leads him further into the catacombs. Poe writes that:
"[Fortunato] turned towards [Montresor], and looked into [his] eves with two filmy orbs that distilled the rheum of intoxication.
Poe himself was an alcoholic and seems to have realized the extremely negative effects that alcohol has on one's ability to reason. In "Cask," Fortunato is easily led to his death because of his intoxication. Similarly, in Poe's "The Black Cat," the narrator mentions that he is afflicted with the disease of alcohol.
If you need a comparison of Montresor and Poe, the most likely connection is that Montresor does mention that the wine that he drank himself starts to affect him as he leads Fortunato to his death.
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