The Outcome of Vengeance

The Outcome of Vengeance

         “An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind” (Ghandi, M., n.d.). The principle of revenge is based on the reaction of a suffering action where judgment is made by the avenger. “Revenge (n) the action of inflicting hurt or harm on someone for an injury or wrong suffered at their hands; the desire to inflict retribution” (Edwards, V. V., n.d.). In other words, it is justice with own hands. Many people believe in justice which differs from revenge because it occurs through the law. Justice is careful in the senses of controlling punishment and maintaining order. It is more rational the opposite of revenge which has too much emotion involved. However, some avengers are able to study their opponents cautiously with patience so their whole plan will have chances to succeed. For them “Revenge is a dish that is eaten cold”. The short story “The Cask of Amontillado” written by Edgar Allan Poe has vengeance as a motivation to commit a crime. The plot is about a murder involving two friends during the carnival. Fortunato is the target of the revenge of Montresor due to the insults to him. In the tale, there is no mention of what are the insults but it is explicit that this is the reason why the character Montresor will execute his machiavellian plan. Fortunato is a great wine connoisseur and so Montresor uses the cask of Amontillado as bait to take him to the scene of his death, the catacombs. Montresor carefully plans the murder. In the end the revenge is executed with perfection, because Montresor goes unpunished. The tale is told by Montresor in a first-person point of view. In the short story “The Cask of Amontillado”, it is evident that the desire for revenge leads deviant people to ignore affective bonds to satisfy their souls, as shown in irony, mood and symbolism.

        The irony shown in “The Cask of Amontillado” is represented by the dissimulated behavior of Montresor. Montresor is ironic with his friend, because he does not want Fortunato to distrust his evil plan. “‘My friend, no. It is not the engagement, but the severe cold with which I perceive you are afflicted. The vaults are insufferably damp. They are encrusted with nitre’” (47-48). In this passage, Montresor pretends to be a friend concerned about Fortunato by stopping him from going to the vaults, when in fact he wants the opposite. He wants that Fortunato, attracted by the barrel of Amontillado, goes to the vaults so he can execute his revenge. Montresor plays with Fortunato, he praises his friend, but at the same time he manipulates the proud sommelier. “‘Come,’ [he] said, with decision, ‘We will go back; your health is precious. You are rich, respected, admired, beloved…we will go back; you will be ill, and I cannot be responsible.” (76-79). The irony is represented by the fact that Montresor wants deeply to kill Fortunato, but with his words he passes the understanding that he does not want to be responsible for the death of someone who is close to him. Also, when Fortunato comments that he will not be killed by a cough, Montresor totally agree with him. “‘Enough,’…. I shall not die of a cough.’ ‘True---true,’ [Montresor] replied; ‘and, indeed, [he] had no intention of alarming [Fortunato] unnecessarily—but you should use all proper caution’” (80-83). At this moment, the irony is presented by the fact that Montresor is sure that the cough wouldn’t kill his friend because he will do it. In fact, irony is not the only element of fiction that bring the sense of revenge to the story.