emarks that Fortunato’s health is precious, and that Fortunato is rich, respected, admired, and beloved. This false sense of friendship and care is the ultimate deception trait found in Montressor. The setting Poe chooses for the story adds to the horror. The details of the environment help to increase the feeling of sinful darkness. His use of descriptive imagery help us experience the catacombs ourselves. He sets most of the story in the dark, damp series of winding tunnels of the catacombs. The weather is an example of the sinfulness that exist in the catacombs. Drops of moisture trickle among the bones, and the ground is constantly damp. Poe use these illustrations to remind us the sliminess nature of the catacombs. Through Poe’s use of descriptive detail we get the feeling as if it is us, the reader, who is being led through the crazed corridors of Montressor’s mind.Poe uses several different types of irony throughout the story. Dramatic irony, where the reader perceives something that a character in the story does not, is seen in the plot of the story. It is Fortunato’s obsession for wine that dramatically lures him to his death. Fortunate approached Montressor with a lot of warmth from his heavy wine drinking. The search for the Amontillado (Spanish sherry) delivers the plot for the murder. The thing that provides Fortunato with warmth, is also the thing that helps cause the murder.The irony of the carnival setting, and Fortunato’s attire illustrate a murderous plot taking place in a happy setting. This warm setting contains a contrast to the sinful deceit that Poe creates later in the story. This sinful humor is seen throughout the story in examples of situational irony. When Poe dresses Fortunato as a jester or a fool’s costume, since Montressor intends to make a fool of him as part of his dark plan. There are also numerous examples of verbal irony, which is when the character says one thing...
