This week's fairly short Poe story is The Cask of Amontillado which you can read here.Poe has many stories that touch on a variety of fantastical topics but then he has a set that are based on a small pool of negative subjects. This story is a combination of revenge and live burial. The narrator has a "frenemy" -- a man who he associates with regularly but whom he feels is constantly disparaging him.
THE thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could ; but when he ventured upon insult, I vowed revenge. You, who so well know the nature of my soul, will not suppose, however, that I gave utterance to a threat. At length I would be avenged ; this was a point definitively settled - but the very definitiveness with which it was resolved, precluded the idea of risk. I must not only punish, but punish with impunity. A wrong is unredressed when retribution overtakes its redresser. It is equally unredressed when the avenger fails to make himself felt as such to him who has done the wrong.
So the narrator hatches a dastardly plan and executes his revenge. This story differs from some others though in that there is no remorse or discovery at the end.
The suspense and anxiety are palpable in this story, as is Poe's forte. This was an enjoyable story.
Next week, the short The Oval Portrait.
Not following my friends or enemies into any crypts,
K
I finally remembered to link to my Poe Friday here! I love this story. For some reason I like all the revenge stories - I'm worried about what that means! =)
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