THE USE OF IRONY
“The Cask of Amontillado”
By Edgar Allen Poe
THREE TYPES OF IRONY
Throughout the story, Poe uses verbal and
dramatic irony to build suspense, foreshadow the
ending, and add a touch of macabre humor.
VERBAL IRONY
Verbal irony involves saying one thing but
meaning the opposite. Montresor is committed to
the idea of killing Fortunato. Verbal irony drips from
every word when Montresor, apparently worried
about Fortunato's cough and the effect of the nitre-
covered walls of his wine cellar, says, "You will be ill
and I cannot be responsible." This is just one of
repeated instances of verbal irony.
VERBAL IRONY
When Montresor runs into Fortunato, he says, “My
dear Fortunato, you are luckily met.”
When Montresor pretends to be concerned about
Fortunato’s hacking cough as they descend into the
vaults, Montresor says, “We will go back. Your health
is precious. You are rich, respected, admired, and
beloved; you are happy, as I once was. You are a
man to be missed.”
VERBAL IRONY
Fortunato then tells Montresor not to worry: “The
cough is a mere nothing; it will not kill me. I will not
die of a cough.” To this reply, Montresor says,
“True–true.” The reader at this point can almost see
a devilish gleam in Montresor’s eyes, for he knows
exactly how Fortunato will die.” Later, Montresor
opens a bottle of wine and toasts Fortunato: “To your
long life,” he says.
SITUATIONAL IRONY
Irony of situation occurs when events turn out the opposite of what
would ordinarily be expected. It is ironic that in this story a man of
misfortune should be named Fortunato. Also, a story titled "The Cask
of Amontillado" leads readers to believe that such a wine container
must exist. There is a black cat in "The Black Cat" and a pit with
pendulum in "The Pit and the Pendulum." In this story, there is
ironically no cask of Amontillado, Sherry, or any other sort of wine.
The fact that the murder takes place during carnival season and the
costumes the two men are wearing is situational irony.
SITUATIONAL IRONY
The Title:• The word cask, meaning wine barrel, is derived from
the same root word used to form casket, meaning coffin. Thus, the cask figuratively represents Fortunato’s casket.
Fortunato’s Name:• The Italian name Fortunato suggests good fortune,
luck. However, Fortunato is anything but fortunate; he is going to his death.
SITUATIONAL IRONY
Fortunato’s Costume:• Fortunato dresses as a court jester. His festive outfit
contrasts with the ghastly fate that awaits him. From time to time, the bell on his cone-shaped hat jingles–a nice comic touch from Poe.
Reference to Masons: • Fortunato asks Montresor whether his is a mason,
meaning a member of the fraternal order of Freemasonry. Montresor says he is indeed a mason. However, he is using the word to mean a craftsman who builds with stone and mortar (because he will be building Fortunato’s “tomb,” a stone wall.)
DRAMATIC IRONY
Dramatic irony is what we feel when we as
readers or viewers of a story or drama know more
than the characters or can interpret more accurately
what they have to say. When Montresor repeats
Fortunato's "Let us be gone," we understand a
different meaning than does Fortunato.
