The cask of Amontillado (E. A. Poe)
·
Poe: inventor of the short story 1820-1830 (conto
moderno)
Philosophy of
Composition: stories should be read in one sitting. This idea is challenged
later. Poe talks about a bait to the reader. He published in literary
magazines/periodics
·
The Story-teller (O Narrador) – Walter Benjamin
Short stories
are characteristic of the modern times. As society becomes industrialised,
people don’t have time to talk, too busy with their tasks.
Structure:
11) Characters
22) Point of view: 3rd
person
33) Plot
44) Setting +
atmosphere
55) Time: carnival
Tone ->
language
Mood ->
internal feeling
16) Fortunato
(Lucky) irony – the victim
Montresor – the
murderer – narrator “I” – French
They are
acquaintances who share a common interest wine
27) Unreliable
narrator. The story takes place in Venice (although it is not said) famous for
its masked parties, where everyone is worried about drinking
38)
Plot: -> revenge (motivation)
-> Play with no threat or risk
-> Impunity
Montresor wants
Fortunato to know why he’s being punished and that he cannot get away. M.
invests in his weak point: pride.
Motley ->
Jester’s outfit (Fortunato plays the part of a fool)
Montresor has
prepared the palazzo for Fortunato’s arrival, by telling the servants to stay,
they go away. He puts obstacles to Fortunato, which attracts him even more.
49)
Palazzo: cold and damp, several suites, archway, winding staircase,
vaults/crypt (hell). Suspense is created by the accumulation of tense passages.
“I shall not die of a cough” “true, true”
Important scenes, 3 clues: Coat of arms (resumes the revenge)
De
Grave (indication of his fate)
Play
on words – Mason (pedreiro, maçom)
Denouement:
desfecho (unravelling)
In the end he is as proud as Fortunato. Why does he
tell the story? It’s a confession but not religious, most probably at his death
bed.
In pace requiescat may refer to him, on his dying bed.
