It is Edgar Allan Poe's intense use of intense irony throughout the cask of Amontillado that establishes the short story as an indeed interesting candidate worthy of thorough analysis. The skill full use of these devices are utilized by the author to create this horrific a suspenseful masterpiece. .
The Cask Of Amontillado is a horror short story, which revolves around the themes of revenge and pride. The plot involves two men: Montresor, the narrator, who is an Italian aristocrat seeking revenge against the second main character: Fortunato, a proud man that boast about his connoisseurship of wines and who finally walks into his own death.
From the very beginning we notice the apparition of irony in the story. The very mane Fortunato would clearly imply that this is a man of good fortune, when the actual case is that he is about to suffer an untimely demise: the end of his life. The setting in which the story takes place again shows an ironic element. It is during Venice's Carnival that the characters meet. Carnival is supposed to be a time of celebration and happiness for everybody. However, in the tale it is a time for revenge and death. The atmosphere changes drastically when the two protagonists leave the gaiety of carnival for the gloomy and desolate catacombs beneath Montresor's palazzo. We learn from the narrator that when he first meets Fortunado the latter has apparently been drinking and is dressed in many colors, resembling a jester. His costume suggests that he will be the one playing the fool. On the other hand Montresor is dressed in a black colored cloak and has his face covered in a black mask. At this point one can mention the presence of symbols: the black mask and outfit might be a representation of Death or the devil. Such figure foreshadows the events taking place later that night in the damp catacombs.
More memorable lines in the story are given by Montresor in response to Fortunato saying," I will not die of a cough.