Premeditated Murder

While reading “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe, the confession of Montresor creates two contradicting scenarios. Montresor’s words argue that Fortunato’s death was not a crime of passion. On the other hand his recollections that the murder was a premeditated murder. When it comes to the topic of deciding if Fortunato’s murder was a crime of passion or a premeditated, the choice is clear. My views are based upon how Montresor took advantage of Fortunato inside the catacombs. In the very beginning of the story Montresor revealed to the reader his intention when he said, “The thousand injuries of Fortunato I borne as I best could; but when he ventured upon insult I vowed revenge.” Throughout the story the reader must keep in mind that Montresor is mad at Fortunato and is in seek of revenge. It was around the time of Carnival and the murder scene was set up prior to bringing Fortunato for a taste of Amontillado. Montresor’s planning of the murder supports his intention of harming Fortunato. One detail that supports the murder being premeditated is the location of the niche; it was far off, dark, and out of place. The narrator says, “At the most remote end of the crypt there appeared there appeared another less spacious. “Its walls had been lined with human remains piled to the vault overhead, in the fashion of the great catacombs of Paris.” Montresor explored the catacombs before choosing it as the setting of the murder scene. Another strange detail that supports Montresor’s premeditation prior to Fortunato’s arrival was the shackles. The niche was large enough to shackle Montresor inside but small enough to keep him trapped inside. The narrator says, “In depth about four feet and in width three.” This supports the niche being large enough to be able to shackle someone inside and keep them trapped. A final detail was the supplies Montresor used to build a wall that would keep Fortunato from sight. When Montresor set the bones