Bailey Laster
English Composition II
Mrs. Dugan
April 29, 2018
Eloquent PoeEdgar Allan Poe is an American writer, whose known for his dark clandestine way of writing. Edgar Allan Poe had written short stories and poems, most of his life in the European literature world. He has focused mainly on a dark and mysterious theme. In Edgar Allan Poe’s short stories, “The Cask of Amontillado”, and “The Tell-Tale Heart,” he explains perplexing his writing skills. Although, he was under-appreciated, he still influenced a lot of people to write about horror and fear. In addition, the image of creative writing in the horror genre was not preferred by a lot of readers. However, once they read Poe’s stories, sparked their interest. Throughout the use of the symbolism, foreshadowing and the dialogue of a character, Edgar Allan Poe’s employs betrayal as a theme in many of his stories, particularly in “The Cask of Amontillado” and “The Tell-Tale Heart”.
As stated online biography, Edgar Allan Poe created short stories that focused on betrayal and death. Assuming this mind set came from the life he lived from the beginning. Edgar Poe born to Elizabeth Arnold Poe, his mother, David Poe, his father in the middle of winter on January ninth, 1809. Although, his father, who was from a good Baltimore family, was a mediocre actor and a heavy drinker who was soon to desert his wife and vanished forever. On the other hand, Elizabeth Arnold Poe was a good actress, but she did in fact pass away due to an illness called tuberculosis in Richmond, Virginia on a cold winter night in December 1811 at the age of 24. These sudden life changing events warped Edgar Allan Poe into the writer he was. Throughout Poe’s life, one will learn that horrible and strange things happened at the age of twenty-four to multiple people in his life. However, Poe married his wife at the age of twenty-four and she was thirteen at the time. Consequently, Poe’s wife died at the age of twenty-four, which was the same age his mother passed away. “Throughout Poe’s life, he lived a life of betrayal and that is to be, believed where his stories of betrayal and death came from (American writers).”
In the short story of “The Cask of Amontillado”, Poe focuses on revenge, which amounts to all his betrayal that he encountered throughout his lifetime. This short story shows the actions that occurred Fortunato, when he laughed at Montresor’s name to dishonor his family. Furthermore, Montresor had enough of Fortunato in this story being told, which showed details of the symbolism used in setting up of the plot. Symbolism is a style of fiction that uses symbolic images and indirect suggestion to express mystical ideas, emotions and states of mind. Fortunato means fortunate in Italian; however, this a very strange name for someone whose trapped behind a wall in the catacombs. In other words, Montresor’s behavior toward Fortunato describes as follows: “It must be understood that neither by word nor deed had I given Fortunato cause to doubt my good will (Lorcher).”
Poe’s use of dialogue in this short story is abnormal. In the beginning, Montresor tells Fortunato (The Unfortunate) that he has just bought a cask of Amontillado (wine) at a bargain price and needs a connoisseur to taste it, to make sure it is a good wine. Shortly thereafter, they go to Montresor’s mansion together where no one is home during this time. According to Delaney, “It would be natural for Fortunato to ask a lot of questions about the wine, but Poe has supplied this character with a bad cold and a hacking.” This portion shows a great deal of how Poe creates the dialogue in this short story.
Edgar Allan Poe’s use of foreshadowing creates a disturbed atmosphere within his short stories. At length, Montresor tells the audience that he seeks revenge against Fortunato at the beginning of the story. Furthermore, much of what Montresor says both foreshadows and reminds the audience of Fortunato’s impending unfortunate ending. “This Latin phrase translated to, ‘No one attacks me with impunity.’ This all-too-appropriate motto, along with the lurid coat of arms, are most likely totally fictitious. Montresor may be inventing them for the pleasure of hinting at what he intends to do to Fortunato. Fortunato’s response suggests that he doesn’t understand Latin and is only pretending to understand the motto (Wesley).” This is a prime example of foreshadowing in Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado” not only does is give a warning to the audience of a future event, but also shows how Montresor is witty with his hint to intend to go through with his gruesome plan. (Wesley)
In the short story “The Tell-Tale Heart”, Poe use of symbolism shows deluded man’s guilt. As a result, of guilt due to killing the elderly man, which the elderly man did nothing wrong to this deluded man; however, his unwelcoming eye made this insane man feel uncomfortable day and night. As the narrator (the killer) describes his actions, he tries to convince his reader that he did not go insane, when describing the murder. According to Cambell, “The narrator uses the heartbeat and that heartbeat, he is talking about is his!”
The dialogue used in “The Tell-Tale Heart” is a conversation between the narrator and the reader. Shmoop quotes, “It took me an hour to place my whole head within the opening so far that I could see him as he lay upon his bed.” In fact, Poe does reassure us that we are in a dark, mysterious tale, where only the darkest and strangest things happen. Nevertheless, when these strange and mysterious things happen, the murder is so carefully done the action takes a lengthy time because this insane man does want the elderly man to look at him with that scarce eye.
In addition, foreshadowing is one of the reader’s best resources to read a Poe story. For example, foreshadowing offers clues and warnings to the reader about what will happen later in the story, rather it be bad or good! “Edgar Allan Poe uses foreshadowing to hint that the sense of hearing, the narrator explains that his hearing is acute, and that not only can he hear things on earth, but in heaven and hell, a statement in which hints at his sanity (enotes).” One can truly read that the narrator was trying to get the reader to believe him. However, the narrator also wanted his readers to understand that the reasoning behind his action that led to the elderly man’s death.
Edgar Allan Poe died October 7, 1849, He was best known for his short stories and poems, although he went through an appalling eventful life. Furthermore, he made use of his life events within his writing. One, who has read his stories, could believe that he wrote everything for a reason. I believe he wrote in a mysterious and horror way to cope with the way his life turned out. Writing this way also gave him sort of a therapeutic benefit, which shows in his imaginative and mysterious writings. For example, the classic short stories “The Cask of Amontillado” and “The Tell-Tale Heart” will forever be the beginning of detective stories.
Work Cited
Edgar Allan Poe, American Writers a Collection of Literary Biographies, Edited by Leonard Unger, Vol 3, Scribner 1974, pp409-431.
Trent Lorcher. Edited by S Forsyth, Symbolism and Irony, “The Cask of Amontillado.” 24 March. 2015.
“Discuss dialogue, that tells you about The Cask of Amontillado.” eNotes, 20 Sep. 2012, https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/discuss-dialogue-that-tell-you-about-cask-360964. Accessed 28 Apr. 2018.
https://www.owleyes.org/text/cask-amontillado/analysis/foreshadowingForeshadowing in The Cask of Amontillado web name Owl eyes, Edited by Wesley
“What does the beating heart symbolize in “The Tell-Tale Heart”?” eNotes, 13 May 2009, https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/what-does-beating-heart-symbolize-tell-tale-h-390730. Accessed 29 Apr. 2018.
Shmoop Editorial Team. “The Tell-Tale Heart Time Quotes Page 1.” Shmoop. Shmoop University, Inc., 11 Nov. 2008. Web. 29 Apr. 2018.
“Does “The Tell-Tale Heart” contain any examples of foreshadowing?” eNotes, 14 Feb. 2012, https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/what-fore-shadowing-flashback-point-view-theme-314836. Accessed 29 Apr. 2018
