Montresor Psychopath Essay

Although “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allen Poe contains only two characters, the personalities of these individuals are extremely intriguing. Montresor, the more interesting of the two characters, displays qualities that would easily justify labeling the man a psychopath. According to an author for the New York Times, Montresor could quite possibly be the most insane character Poe has ever created, stating: “In his tales of Gothic horror, Edgar Allan Poe gave the world a fine collection of neurotics, paranoids and psychopaths. But none are quite as deranged as the narrator of ‘The Cask of Amontillado”’ (P. McGrath). Through his impulsive actions, his apathetic nature, his manipulative attitude, and his superficial charm, Montresor proves to be an accurate representation of a psychopath.
I promised myself that I would make him pay for this — that I would have revenge” (E. Poe 68). Without giving it a second thought, Montresor decides hastily and assuredly to seek vengeance upon Fortunato after discovering he has slandered his name. This is important to take note of, as his plan of action is a clear example of impulsivity. Robert. D. Hare, who holds a PhD in experimental psychology, is well-known for his devised check-list to determine if an individual may be a psychopath. Unsurprisingly, “impulsive” is listed as the first symptom under the Social Deviance section of the list (R. Hare 34). Montresor displayed no forethought or contemplation on his vengeful decision, which are common characteristics for a person with psychopathic tendencies to exhibit. To begin labeling a person a psychopath, however, they must present multiple traits from the checklist, not just