Techniques of Edgar Allen Poe
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Edgar Allen Poe's Use of Varying Techniques To Terrify Readers
In Edgar Allan Poe's short stories The Cask of Amontillado, The Tell-Tale Heart and The Black Cat, a murderer tries to justify his actions in an outrageous and absurd way, and thus is hypocritical when he claims that he is completely sane. Thus, the overall effect that the three stories produce is one of utmost terror and horror in the reader, mainly because of the mass hypocrisy that a man can (somewhat) calmly tell the story of how he murdered someone, and yet claim that he is completely sane. Although Montresor does not specifically justify his actions in The Cask of Amontillado, he says nothing about having done something wrong. Each of the three stories tells of a grizzly murder carefully plotted in every detail, which is narrated by murderer in an almost relishing manner.
The Cask of Amontillado's plot and characterization of the murderer share several features with the other two stories. Particularly evident is how the murder is plotted out in every scrupulous detail. Montresor "vowed revenge," saying that "at length [he] would be revenged (Great Tales of Edgar Allen Poe,7)." Montresor narrates for some time how he will take advantage of Fortunato's claim to be a connoisseur of wine. Montresor explains his plan down to the most minute detail, sending away the maids and staff for the day so as to have the house to himself. Once inside the catacombs, Montresor plays to the vanity of Fortunato, further revealing how deep his plans are for this murder...