The
setting of the story is absolutely crucial to establishing the overall mood. The story takes
place against the backdrop of a carnival when everyone's out and about enjoying themselves,
getting blind drunk and wearing silly costumes. Yet the action itself takes place in the dark,
dank catacombs, where the wicked Montresor will confine the hapless Fortunato to his final
resting place.
The juxtaposition of two such radically different eventsa
joyous celebration and a cold-blooded murderis entirely in keeping with Poe's black humor and
makes the horror that finally unfolds all the more effective when it comes. Right up until the
very end, we entertain the barest of hopes that this is all some gigantic prank by Montresor and
that he won't really wall up poor old Fortunato alive inside a crypt. In fact, that's precisely
what Fortunato himself believes, though it's probably just wishful thinking on his
part.
Montresor actually confesses his crime right at the start of the
story. But...
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