A Heart Set in Stone

In the story, “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe, the last stone Montresor struggled with as he trapped Fortunato in the catacombs represents his own desires, and how these conflict with his role as a member of his family. By forcing the stone into the niche nonetheless, and leaving Fortunato to die, Montresor demonstrates how much he cares about his family, choosing to uphold their ideals despite his own internal qualms.

            In order to fully understand the significance of the stone in the narrative, one must first delve deeper into the intentions behind Montresor’s actions and words throughout the story. Despite his determined and almost sadistic exterior, he displays several signs of reluctance as he carries out his revenge on Fortunato. For instance, at the end of the narrative, Montresor mentions that his “heart grew sick – on account of the dampness of the catacombs.” (Page 20) The author’s decision to add a pause between those two statements highlights Montresor’s uncertainty – and his use of the word “heart” indicates the involvement of Montresor’s personal feelings. In other words, by saying this line, Montresor is attempting to conceal his remorse, to explain it away with logical reasoning. This calls into question the true intent behind the rest of his actions. When Fortunato’s intoxication wears off, for instance, and Montresor takes a rest, is it really out of a wish to “hearken to [Fortunato’s struggles] with the more satisfaction,” given how the screams that follow “seemed to thrust [Montresor] violently back” – or is his resolve starting to falter in this scene, his underlying hesitation beginning to show? When Montresor repeatedly urges Fortunato to go back while he still has the chance, is it merely out of some sense of sadism, or is there a genuine warning laced within his words – as if Montresor is looking for an external excuse not to continue with his revenge? Deep inside, Montresor is not as self-assured and cruel as he describes himself to be. The reason, then, that he puts such effort into maintaining a calm exterior – the reason he eventually carries out his act of vengeance to the end – can be attributed to a wish to honor his family and their beliefs. The Montresors placed a lot of value in revenge, with their motto being “Nemo ne impune lacessit,” which translates to “No one wounds me with impunity.” (Page 17). Considering how he has full control over his servants at home (Page 15-16), and how extensive his relatives’ tombs are described to be (Page 17), it would make sense to assume that Montresor is the heir to his late family – which is why it falls upon him alone to carry on his loved ones’ precious ideology. This explains why he had chosen his family’s grave as the location in which he kills Fortunato, as if to honor them by doing so. In addition, during his moment of visible hesitation on page 19, he “placed my hand upon the solid fabric of the catacombs, and felt satisfied” – as if looking to his family for reassurance, to help him remember the reason why he had initially taken it upon himself to exact revenge.

            The stone Montresor struggled with symbolizes his heart – his innermost desires, his reluctance as he killed Fortunato, and perhaps even a sense of compassion or mercy for those who have hurt him. These are the very emotions he tries to stifle, as they are what hinder him from thoroughly and wholeheartedly fulfilling his family’s wishes. When he “placed [the last stone] partially” within the makeshift cavern wall, he still had the opportunity to turn back – to follow his own conscience, free Fortunato, and claim that the whole thing had just been “a very good joke, indeed.” Yet by forcing the stone into what is, on page 19, described as its “destined position,” he chooses instead to follow his fate, and seal Fortunato’s in the process. “The Cask of Amontillado” is not just a story about revenge and treachery, but one about honor and dishonor, about what it means to follow one’s own heart or bend to the will of others. As the narrative progresses, Montresor portrays himself as someone self-assured and true to himself, even describing himself as a “true virtuoso spirit” on page 14, and looking down on those who “practise imposture upon the British and Austrian millionaires.” However, the way he acts on page 19 shows otherwise as he struggles with the stone, the weight of his own desires, yet draws comfort from the solidity and firmness of the catacombs, the knowledge of what his family would have wanted him to do. Here, he demonstrates that from his perspective, satisfying his family’s wishes and knowing his inherited place is easier than relying on his own conscience. As a contrast to Fortunato – who is quite well-respected, but at the same time arrogant, careless, and prone to recklessly drink – could the disgraced and deceitful Montresor be the honorable one in the narrative, remaining loyal to his family the way he does? Did he make the right decision by killing Fortunato, and, given his circumstances, would he have experienced more or less regret if he had not? Either way, when he finally plasters the last stone into its position on the niche wall – thus accomplishing his vengeance and ensuring Fortunato’s death – Montresor fully integrates himself as a member of his family, by leaving a piece of himself to lie among his loved ones’ bones; but in exchange, he abandons that small, rebellious part of his soul to wither among the dead.