Brandon Smith
EWRT 1B
10/9/07
The Renaissance movement began in Italy, and in the 14th, 15th, and 16th centuries, Italy created some of the world’s most incredible works of art – from paintings and sculpture to architecture and music – yet by the time Edgar Allan Poe was born, Italy had been conquered by foreigners and subjected to their rule. During Poe’s life, Italians expressed a strong desire for independence from this domination by outsiders, and for the unification of the Italian people. Edgar Allan Poe’s horror story “The Cask of Amontillado” symbolically portrays Italy’s quest for retribution against the foreigners who had conquered and subjugated the once-great Italian people.
In “The Cask of Amontillado”, Montresor represents what was once the highest peak, or “mont”, of Italian civilization. In fact, Monte Bianco, the most prominent peak of the Alps, is one of the highest points in Europe. During the 1500s, the Italian peninsula fell to invading armies, and after this fall, Italy lost the luster it had acquired during the Renaissance. In this way, the greatness of the Italian people “died”, which is symbolized by the bones of the dead littering the floor in the catacombs, far beneath the “mont” of civilization. The Italian people seek to regain their greatness by exacting revenge upon their oppressors. This is symbolized by Montresor – who represents the Italian people – seeking revenge against Fortunato – who represents the conquerors – for wronging the Italians.
Fortunato’s one weakness lies in fine wine. This weakness symbolizes the conqueror’s desire of the Italian’s fine art that was created during the Renaissance and is now suppressed by their rule. Using this weakness, Montresor will bring Fortunato down to the very depths of the extensive catacombs – simultaneously representing the Italian’s great architectural achievements, the remains of their great civilization, the unpleasantness of the task at hand, and the depths to which their civilization has now sunk – to utterly destroy and humiliate his enemy. Montresor states that eventually, his revenge is guaranteed, much as it is guaranteed that the Italian people will one day revolt against their oppressors and win back their independence. There is no need for him to be rash in pursuing his revenge, for it is he who has the advantage. He merely has to pretend to be living his life as quietly as ever until the time is right for him to obtain retribution.
Montresor feigns concern for the welfare of Fortunato, which only encourages Fortunato to continue forward on his path to destruction – his senses dulled by the wine that Montresor presents him with. This final bottle of wine that he consumes is appropriately named “De Grave”. In a similar manner to Montresor feigning concern, the Italian people formed secret societies while pretending to live ordinary lives when in reality they were working to further the goal of attaining independence.
Montresor gave Fortunato wine to help suppress his cough due to the nitre encrusted on the walls of the catacomb. The nitre represents the gunpowder that is used in the revolt against the foreign occupiers. Fortunato’s chronic cough represents the irritating civil unrest in the region, and the manner in which he brushes it off represents his ignorance of the political situation. In drinking the wine, Fortunato toasts the dead that repose around them – he mocks the remains of what was once a great country – and Montresor toasts to Fortunato’s long life, mocking Fortunato’s ignorance of his impending demise.
Montresor’s motto – “Nemo me impune lacessit” (Let no one provoke me with impunity) – and family crest – a foot of gold in a field azure crushing the serpent that bit it – symbolize the aspirations of the Italian people to attain retribution against the people who have wronged them. The foot of gold depicted on the crest represents the former glory of the Italian people, and the serpent – their oppressors – is being crushed under the foot in a field azure, which represents the field of victory.
Montresor gives Fortunato several chances to turn back and save himself, which represents the Italian peoples’ pleas for reform, but Fortunato ignores the pleas from Montresor and continues on his path, eventually leading him to a dead end (literally) from which he has no more room to maneuver and save himself. At this point, Montresor chains him to the end of the passageway and walls him in, having given him plenty of chances to change his course of action. In this way, Montresor demonstrates the inevitable consequence that will occur should Italy not be granted independence from its oppressors.