“Revenge is a dish best served cold”. This is a quote I am sure Edgar Allen Poe has herd after reading his short story “The Cask of Amontillado”. “The Cask of Amontillado” is the story of man, Montresor, and his brutal revenge against his former friend, Fortunato, who had insulted him. Poe’s story is riddled with examples of dramatic, verbal and situational irony which highlight the brutal revenge and brings humor into the story. Dramatic irony occurs when the reader knows something that one of the characters does not. Such is the case in “The Cask of Amontillado” as the story begins with Montresor stating “The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could; but when he ventured upon insult, I vowed revenge”(510). This statement sets up dramatic irony throughout the story as the reader knows Montresor has sworn revenge on Forunato, while Fortunato believes they are still friends. This irony is evident through the whole story as Montresor pretends to be friends luring Fortunato to his cellar where he would eventually trap and kill him. The irony enhances the brutality of the murder as the reader knows throughout Montresor is planning some revenge while Fortunato believes he is going to sample his friends wine. Secondly Poe weaves verbal irony, a statement in which the meaning that a speaker employs is sharply different from the meaning that is ostensibly expressed, throughout to add humor to the story. The story is filled with verbal irony as Montresor is planning on killing Fortunato so almost every word he speaks is ironic as he convinces Forunato continue into his catacombs to his eventual death. This is seen when Montresor tricks Fortunato into testing his Amontillado by telling him he is bringing it to Luchesi to which Fortunanto replies “Luchesi cannot tell Amontillado from Sherry” and Montresor replies “[a]nd yet some fools will have it that his taste is a match for your own”(511). This is ironic and humorous because Amontillado is in fact Sherry and Montresor is being sarcastic in his response playing Fortunato for the fool he is. Another instance in which verbal irony is used when Montresor and Fortunato are in the catacombs having a drink and Frotunato toasts “to the buried repose around us” and Montresor toast to “your long life.(512)” This is ironic as Montresor knows he is going to kill Fortunato shortly yet is toasting to his long life. All the verbal irony provides great humor to this dark story of murderous revenge. Finally Poe makes use of situational irony which is when actions have the effect opposite of what is intended. This is utilized in “The Cask of Amontillado” when Frotunato makes a grotesque movement to which the following exchange occur
“You do not comprehend?” he said.
“Not I,” I replied.
“Then you are not of the brotherhood.”
“How?”
“You are not of the masons.”
“Yes, yes,” I said, “yes, yes.”
“You? Impossible! A mason?”
“A mason,” I replied.
“A sign,” he said.
“It is this,” I answered, producing a trowel from beneath the folds of my roquelaire. (512)
This situation is ironic for a couple of reasons. Firstly this is ironic because Fortunato is speaking of the secret society for freemasons while Montresor is speaking of actual brick laying masons. Secondly it is ironic because Montresor produces a trowel when asked for a sign and in freemasonry the trowel is a sign of brotherly love which Montresor clearly does not have for his “friend”(511). This situation adds a little more humor to the story as Montresor continues to play Forunato for a fool on his evil quest for revenge. Through various uses of irony Poe is able to enhance the plot and add humor to his clever tale of revenge. By using dramatic irony present throughout the story the true brutality behind Montresor’s plot is seen well the verbal and situational irony show how the crazy and genius Montresor humorously play Forunato for a fool.