“The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult I vowed revenge.”
“The Cask of Amontillado” was a creepy and disturbing tale, don’t get me wrong, but it wasn’t my favorite of Poe’s short stories. While the horror factor was definitely present, especially towards the ending, I found that I couldn’t get into the story as much as I could when I read, say, “The Tell-Tale Heart”. The narration of this story was lacking a certain distinct personality that would have ordinarily pulled me right into the moment of the action. It didn’t help that very little background information was given concerning the history between the main character and Fortunado. The absence of such information made me feel distanced from the story, as if I was jumping into the middle of a battle with no knowledge of either side. I did like the way the narrator was potrayed, because I felt sypathetic towards him at first and then I despised him towards the end. However, I felt as though more information or background knowledge would have made him a more enjoyable character to read about in general.
Overall, I did enjoy reading this story despite my previous complaint. Once again, as with “The Tell-Tale Heart” I especially liked the ending, because it was creepy and dark and unexpected. I never thought that the main character would be so cruel, but then again Poe is utterly unpredictable. The setting of the catacombs was suspenseful and unsettling, perfect for the events that were taking place. I admire Poe as a writer because he really makes the reader feel as though they are walking beside the main character, feeling their fear and anticipation and often dread. It’s this insightful look at the human mind that makes Poe’s stories so enthralling and fascinating.
My Rating: :0) :0) :0) :0) 4 out of 5 smileys.
Would I recommend it to a friend?: Definitely!
Yours,
HOLLY
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