The Cask of Amontillado

1. The Cask of Amontillado

2. Our narrator, Montresor, begins by telling us that he has been greatly insulted by his “frienemy”, Fortunato and is seeking revenge. • No idea what the guy did to him! • Holds grudges, overly sensitive- reliable?! • He’s got a plan carefully thought out- one that puts him at no risk of getting caught. • He will act like nothing is up- friendly to him. • He decides that he will use Fortunato’s love of wine against him. • Fortunato also believes he is an expert wine taster. He’s also rich.

3. One night during Carnival, he encounters Fortunato, who is already tipsy. • Fortunato is decked out in a jester or court fool costume- complete with tights and a hat with bells! • Montressor tells Fortunato that he’s got some wine that could pass for Amontillado- a Spanish Sherry- Fortunato’s favorite! • Fortunato is intrigued and wants to try it. • Our narrator starts playing on Fortunato’s ego by saying he wants him to try it to see if it’s the real deal….he got it cheap!

4. To really get him to go, Montressor starts to tell Fortunato that if he’s too busy, he’ll ask Luchesi to try it instead. • Luchesi is apparently Fortunato’s enemy- Fortunato insists on going! • He’s anxious to go try the wine and begs Montressor to take him to his wine vault now. • Keep in mind- this is all planned out! Montressor even conned his servants into thinking he would be out all night so they take off.

5. They head through Montressor’s house and into the vault. • It’s very damp and musty down there; walls are covered with nitre- a white mineral. • Fortunato’s breathing starts becoming aggravated by the stuff and starts coughing a lot. • Pretending to be concerned, Montressor offers to bring him home, overly compliments him. • Fortunato refuses! He really wants to taste that wine! • He takes a drink of alcohol as a cough suppressant.

6. They pass the crypts of Montressor’s family- very big and creepy looking. • Fortunato says he forgot Montressor’s family motto and asks him to remind him of it. • Foot stepping on a snake- snake’s fangs are in the heel of the foot. • Nemo me impune lacessit= No one attacks me without consequence. • Montressor keeps complimenting Fortunato and says he’s looking out for his health- offers to take him home • Fortunato just drinks more and says let’s keep going.

7. Then Fortunato makes a secret hand gesture of the Masons fraternity- Montressor has no idea what it is. • Fortunato tells him and Montressor tries to play off that he’s a member. • Fortunato asks for proof so Montressor shows him a trowel, thinking he means an actual stonemason! • Fortunato laughs at him and says he wants to keep going to the wine.

8. They continue on to the crypt where the wine is. • Human bones decorate 3 of the 4 walls. The bones for the 4th wall are on the ground. • Montressor points to a small recess or cut out in the wall and says the wine is in there. • Fortunato is WAYYYYY drunk now so he goes over to the recess without question. • Suddenly, Montressor chains and padlocks him to a stone!

9. Fortunato is confused and starts to ask where the wine is. • The narrator uncovers brick and mortar and begins to build a wall in front of Fortunato! • By the time the 1st layer of brick is down, Fortunato begins to sober up. • He cries, is terrified and helpless. Then he falls silent. • Montressor takes a little break- totally enjoys the sounds of Fortunato’s suffering!

10. Just as Montressor is about to finish, Fortunato begins to laugh thinking Montressor is playing a joke on him. NO JOKE! • He begins to plead with Montressor asking to be let go. When his pleas are ignored, he falls silent again. • Montressor hears the silence and claims his heart feels sick but blames it on the dampness of the crypt. He’s really enjoying this!

11. He places the last brick in the wall and repositions the bones over it- completing the display. • For 50 years, no one disturbed them. • He concludes his tale by saying to the soul of Fortunato rest in peace.