The Cask of Amontillado recounts a tale of vengeance as Fortunato’s insult towards Montresor fractures their close friendship. This rift was more devastating than any practical joke or deception. The bond between Fortunato and Montresor is distinctive, as they possess contrasting traits yet share similarities. The name “Fortunato” accurately reflects his fate, as he is fortunate to possess immense wealth. Despite his abundant family and friends, Fortunato appears to be plagued by illness. Disregarding his severe cough, Fortunato dismisses it with the phrase “It is nothing.”
Fortunato has a strong subconscious and is driven by his ego. He always has to be superior to others, as shown by his belief that failing to distinguish between Amontillado and Sherry would reflect poorly on him. One quote that encapsulates Fortunato is, “Come 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 Besides there is Luchresi.” On the other hand, Montresor is not loved, respected, or missed. Previously, Montresor seemed similar to Fortunato with his large family and many friends. However, something changed. He states, “The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as best I could, but when he ventured insult I vowed revenge.”
Fortunato has deeply offended Montresor in various ways. However, Montresor has chosen to ignore all of Fortunato’s actions except for one specific insult. This insult alone is the reason why Montresor seeks vengeance. Ultimately, Montresor succeeds in getting revenge by leading Fortunato through the lengthy and dimly lit corridors of his wine cellar. Upon reaching their destination, Montresor chains Fortunato and builds a wall around him. After completing the wall, Montresor utters the words “In pace requiescat,” meaning “may he rest in peace.” Clearly, Fortunato and Montresor share numerous similarities and can be viewed as close friends. Both men possess a passion for aged wines, as Poe notes: “In the matter of old wines he was sincere; in this respect I did not differ from him materially.” This shared affection for wine is evident in the fact that Fortunato accompanies Montresor to taste the Amontillado. Additionally, both individuals belong to the upper-class society, evident through their eloquent language and discussions about costly wines and merchandise. The extensive family histories of these two men further imply their wealth.
Fortunato and Montresor had more differences than similarities. The main difference was in their personalities – Montresor was cunning and shrewd, while Fortunato was naïve and gullible. Montresor used this to his advantage by manipulating Fortunato with reverse psychology. For instance, he falsely claimed that he was going to see Luchresi, who had a better taste in wine, to make Fortunato eager to join him in tasting the supposed Amontillado. Montresor’s plan succeeded as Fortunato admitted that Luchresi could not distinguish between Amontillado and Sherry. However, instead of allowing Fortunato to taste the wine, Montresor ultimately murdered him.
Fortunato’s gullibility stems from his genuine belief in Montresor possessing a barrel of Amontillado, ultimately leading to his demise. Despite Fortunato being a well-liked and easygoing individual among everyone else, Montresor holds animosity towards him due to Fortunato causing him great losses. Montresor prefers to isolate himself, with Fortunato being the only person he considers a friend. Although Fortunato and Montresor have contrasting personalities, their relationship would have flourished if they weren’t both stubborn and convinced of their superiority over others. This sense of superiority eventually results in Fortunato’s death. Utilizing his sharp intellect, Montresor manipulates Fortunato’s innocent and gullible demeanor to convince him to accompany Montresor into the wine cellar for the sake of ultimate revenge.
