Famed horror writer Edgar Allen Poe’s The Cask of Amontillado is perhaps one of the most well-written horror stories to date. The story utilizes the contrast between happiness and evil and the combination of both to tell a compelling story. Within the report, the main character and the murderer Montresor seeks revenge on a friend of his, a man named Fortunato, out of jealousy. The pair entered Montresor’s cellar, where he brutally murdered unsuspecting Fortunato by burying him alive and torching him. The contrast between the dark and bright, the element of the readers being told everything at the beginning, and the dialogues between the two men all contribute to a great, timeless piece of literature.
Perhaps the main reason behind the story’s creation of suspense is Poe’s utilization of contract. The story starts at a happy, bright, uplifting festival, with Fortunato dressed as a clown with jingle bells dangling from him. As he is led into the cellar, the story's overall mood changes drastically, with fear constantly growing. The story’s suspense continues as Montresor leads Fortunato deeper into the unknown underground. While Montresor blends into the darkness, Fortunato’s bright costume and jingle bells are the only source of the outside world, creating an atmosphere of uncomfortableness as Fortunato’s murder is being carried out, Montresor calls out: “‘Fortunato!’ No answer still. I thrust a torch through the remaining aperture and let it fall within. There came forth in return only a jingling of the bells.” Once again, the author utilizes the combination of the bright and the dark to add horror to the scene. Such methods are similar to scenes in horror movies and shows, where happy, childish music plays in the background as a heinous crime is being carried out. In contrary to other writers, such as Conrad, who uses alternate meanings for an object, Poe’s direct comparison is a much simpler alternative. It is equally as effective as its counterpart.
Another method of suspension used by Poe is when he unveils the entirety of the plot and the ending before the actual story starts. However, some argue that such methods take away the element of suspense. In reality, by letting the readers play “God,” the reader can draw more relationships between the characters and their surroundings due to the new perspectives introduced at the beginning. The readers will also be more focused on the characters' actions instead of simply getting to the ending or providing a jump scare that might distract the readers from the actual plot. In the context of The Cask of Amontillado, Montresor first reveals his plot before the true story even begins: “The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult I vowed revenge.” There is always suspense when the reader knows something dangerous is around the corner, but the character doesn’t. While putting the reader in the character’s perspective could be effective, allowing the readers to spectate is a proven way of creating a thrilling story.
Dialogues were also a massive contributor to the creation of suspense. Like the contrast between the dark and the light, Poe used dialogue to fill the emptiness of the cellar. Contrasted against the dark ambiance of the basement, the talks between Montresor and Fortunato add liveliness to the cellar, further foreshadowing Fortunato’s murder. Another case of foreshadowing is when Fortunato coughs, and Montresor pretends to the the “nice guy.” He kindly asks: “‘Come,’ I said, with decision, ‘we will go back; your health is precious. You are rich, respected, admired, beloved; you are happy, as once I was. You are a man to be missed. For me it is no matter. We will go back; you will be ill, and I cannot be responsible.’” The actual intentions of Montresor are the exact opposite of his words in the quote above. While Montresor tells Fortunato that he is a man to be missed, in reality, Montresor intends to kill him without anybody above recognizing Fortunato’s absence. Montresor also “praises” Fortunato for his success, which turns out to be the reason for Montresor’s discontent with his friend. Such uses of opposition are a common theme in all of Poe’s writings.
Edgar Allen Poe’s The Cask of Amontillado is a timeless masterpiece that combines traditional and irrational literary elements to create a compelling plot. Without such factors, even the most eventful story will become bland and lifeless. Poe’s techniques reveal the most haunting details of Montresor’s crime while not leaving out the ambiance of the surroundings or minor details.
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