A Cask of Amontillado Essay: Theme of Masonry -- Cask Amontillado Essa

The Theme of Masonry in A Cask of Amontillado The fundamental question in Edgar Allan Poes A Cask of Amontillado is the nature of Montresors motive for the revenge he vowed to obtain when Fortunato ventured upon insult (209). Montresor believes a wrong is unredressed when the avenger fails to make himself felt as such to him who has done the wrong(209). While Montresor endeavors to make his vengeance know to Fortunato, the authors references to Masonry in his use of characterization, setting and irony indicate Montresors motive. Fortunato throws back a bottle of wine in a gesticulation Montresor did not understand, a sign of the Masons, a secret society of which he affirms he is a member (212). This secrecy is emulated in Montresors slaughter of his foe. Montresors deadly act, he himself, and ultimately Fortunato are shrouded in secrecy. Montresors end of his foe is carried out at dusk. He leads Fortunato through the darkness down a long and winding staircase into the inmost reces ses of the catacombs at the most outside end of t...