urselves to believe what is about to happen. The denouement lets us know indeed, Montresor was never punished for this crime. Fifty years has passed and he is an old man telling the story on his deathbed. The true horror is that Fortunato died a terrible death, utterly alone, and his killer was never brought to justice.Perhaps the theme in the story is the least important feature. After all, it is about a senseless crime, and what sense can be made of such horror? Perhaps the idea behind the story is that no one can find refuge from a deranged mind, or that terrible crimes can be committed when an imaginary offense can fester into a deep hatred. Perhaps Poe is saying that there have always been great crimes that go unsolved. How many undiscovered remains are there in the walls of medieval buildings?In this story the character of Montresor is revealed through his own words. When he reveals he is going to punish Fortunato for merely insulting him, that he has planned the whole act of vengeance, and that he has been playing as being Fortunatos friend, we know we are dealing with a deranged personality. His character is also revealed with references to his family. It is almost as if Poe has Montresors ancestors tell the reader how nicely he fits into the family tree. His legacy from his family motto No one attacks me with impunity and a coat of arms that depicts a serpent whose last wish before death is to poison the foot that crushed it. Does the fruit of ever fall far from the tree? Montresor is as evil as his forebears were. He shows no remorse about what he has done, even in old age. When he says, May he rest in peace at the end of the story, the reader gets the feeling he means, I hope you stay there and rot rather than, I hope you found joy and peace in heaven.We dont really know much about Fortunato: just enough to know that he must not have really known the true heart of his friend. He must not have been a guarded p...
