“The Cask of Amontillado

One of the most prominent stories by Edgar Allen Poe, is “The Cask of Amontillado”. This story by Poe, is definalty a case where he expresses his deep meaning of gothic literature. The story begins around dusk, one night during the carnival season in an unnamed European city. The location quickly changes from the joyfull activites of the festival, to the damp, dark catacombs under Montresor's palazzo which helps to establish the sadistic atmosphere of …

…one of his most brilliantly written tales and one which deserves to be included in any anthology of horror. (Hammond) Poe does not intend for the reader to sympathize with Montresor because he has been wronged by Fortunato, but rather to judge him. Telling the story from Montresor's point of view, intensifies the effect of moral shock and horror. Poe succeeds again, by getting the reader to explore the inner workings of a sinister mind.