erson. He must have said too much to make Montresor think he was insulting him and he must have boasted about his knowledge of wines. You feel that Fortunato was probably a bit too sociable and a bit foolish. He was an unfortunate man who found himself in contact with the wrong person.The setting Poe chose for the story adds to the horror. He sets most of the story in a dark, damp series of winding tunnels piled with bones. By taking Fortunato into the vaults, he cuts him off from help. The two characters are underground and isolated. As Montresor leads his friend through the vaults, we feel as if we are being led through the crazed corridors of Montresors sick mind. Using the carnival as a backdrop is also skillful because it is a time when everything is in chaos and people have lost their self-control. There is noise in the street, the servants are gone, and Fortunato might have sensed something evil about Montresors intentions and left the vaults before it was too late.Poes style is what makes this a masterpiece of horror. He uses imagery to help the reader experience of the catacombs. We see the vaults encrusted with niter, the walls piled with bones, the glow of the flambeaus, and the mask of black silk Montresor wears. We hear the jingle of bells on Fortunatos cap, his hacking cough, and his laughter of despair as he is buried alive. We feel the dampness of the catacombs. Poe uses irony throughout the story. There is situational irony in the fact that the crime takes place during a celebration, that Fortunatos name means good luck, and that Fortunato is dressed like a jester. What is about to happen is just the opposite of what you would expect. Just about everything Montresor says is verbal irony. He says just the opposite of what he means. He keeps inquiring about Fortunatos health and says he will not die of a cold. The greatest use of irony is when Montresor says he is a member of the masons. Fortunato thi...
