The Use of Irony

1. The Use of Irony “The Cask of Amontillado” By Edgar Allen Poe

2. Three Types of Irony • Throughout the story, Poe uses verbal and dramatic irony to build suspense, foreshadow the ending, and add a touch of macabre humor.

3. Verbal Irony • Verbal irony involves saying one thing but meaning the opposite. Montresor is committed to the idea of killing Fortunato. Verbal irony drips from every word when Montresor, apparently worried about Fortunato's cough and the effect of the nitre-covered walls of his wine cellar, says, "You will be ill and I cannot be responsible." This is just one of repeated instances of verbal irony.

4. Verbal Irony • When Montresor runs into Fortunato, he says, “My dear Fortunato, you are luckily met.” • When Montresor pretends to be concerned about Fortunato’s hacking cough as they descend into the vaults, Montresor says, “We will go back. Your health is precious. You are rich, respected, admired, and beloved; you are happy, as I once was. You are a man to be missed.”

5. Verbal Irony • Fortunato then tells Montresor not to worry: “The cough is a mere nothing; it will not kill me. I will not die of a cough.” To this reply, Montresor says, “True–true.” The reader at this point can almost see a devilish gleam in Montresor’s eyes, for he knows exactly how Fortunato will die.” Later, Montresor opens a bottle of wine and toasts Fortunato: “To your long life,” he says.

6. Situational Irony • Irony of situation occurs when events turn out the opposite of what would ordinarily be expected. It is ironic that in this story a man of misfortune should be named Fortunato. Also, a story titled "The Cask of Amontillado" leads readers to believe that such a wine container must exist. There is a black cat in "The Black Cat" and a pit with pendulum in "The Pit and the Pendulum." In this story, there is ironically no cask of Amontillado, Sherry, or any other sort of wine. The fact that the murder takes place during carnival season and the costumes the two men are wearing is situational irony.

7. Situational Irony • The Title: • The word cask, meaning wine barrel, is derived from the same root word used to form casket, meaning coffin. Thus, the cask figuratively represents Fortunato’s casket. • Fortunato’s Name: • The Italian name Fortunato suggests good fortune, luck. However, Fortunato is anything but fortunate; he is going to his death.

8. Situational Irony • Fortunato’s Costume: • Fortunato dresses as a court jester. His festive outfit contrasts with the ghastly fate that awaits him. From time to time, the bell on his cone-shaped hat jingles–a nice comic touch from Poe. • Reference to Masons: • Fortunato asks Montresor whether his is a mason, meaning a member of the fraternal order of Freemasonry. Montresor says he is indeed a mason. However, he is using the word to mean a craftsman who builds with stone and mortar (because he will be building Fortunato’s “tomb,” a stone wall.)

9. Dramatic Irony • Dramatic irony is what we feel when we as readers or viewers of a story or drama know more than the characters or can interpret more accurately what they have to say. When Montresor repeats Fortunato's "Let us be gone," we understand a different meaning than does Fortunato.