FREE ESSAY ON INSANE OR NOT INSANE. THAT IS THE QUESTION

INSANE OR NOT INSANE. THAT IS THE QUESTION

Insane Or Not Insane? That Is The Question
Some people wonder is Montressor was insane in the short story of "The Cask of
Amontillado." Well to me, he was. I say this because would a sane man want revenge on a
person? Would a sane man want to kill someone in such a slow and painful way? That is the
idea that is going to be discussed in this essay.
"I must not only punish but punish with impunity (p. 149) That line in itself just says
that he is not a normal thinking human being. This is when he starts to make out his plan
of retribution. During this time, Montressor was careful not to arouse Fortunato's
suspicions. "...Neither by word or by deed had I given Fortunato cause to doubt my good
will. I continued...to smile in his face, and he did not perceive that my smile now was
at the thought of his immolation (p. 149). 
Fortunato had a weakness, which Montressor thought could be good for his implementing his
plan. Fortunato prided himself upon being a connoisseur of fine wines. In this respect,
they were both equals. So therefore, he knew that he would catch on to the bait and fall
into the trap. Montressor knew that Fortunato had been drinking and this was even more of
a good thing for him. He had shown his gratitude for finding Fortunato because he had
just purchased a large cask of what he thinks in Amontillado, which is a dry sherry.
Montressor had his doubts about its authenticity and so didn't Fortunato.
"Amontillado...Impossible! And in the middle of a carnival!" (p. 149). Montressor then
told him that he also had his doubts, that he had already paid full price and that he was
sorry for not consulting with him first. He then tells Fortunato that he was on the way
to Luchesi's because he wanted to know its authenticity. That was just a piece of the
bait to make Fortunato come into the trap. Fortunato was also placing himself in the trap
by suggesting that they go to their vaults to taste the Amontillado. 
Montressor plays like he doesn't know what he is about to do. Most insane people do that.
He claims that he and Fortunato shouldn't go because Fortunato has a serious cold. He
insisted that he stay behind because the dampness and the niter wouldn't be good for his
cough. Fortunato once again, took the bait and the plan was put into action. When they
had arrived, there was no one there. All the servants were gone according to plan.
Montressor kept insisting that they go back because of the niter and of Fortunato's
cough. "We will go back; your health is precious. You are rich, respected, admired,
beloved; you are happy, as once I was. For me it is no matter. WE will go back; you will
be ill, and I cannot be responsible. Besides, there is Luchesi---" (p.150). But once
again, He wanted to taste the Amontillado and he was putting himself closer and closer to
his own death. They both kept walking and Montressor kept saying that they should go
back. And Fortunato kept creeping closer to his death. The soon reached the room where
the Amontillado was kept. At the most remote end of the crypt there appeared another less
spacious. Its walls had been lined with human remains...Three sides of this interior
crypt were still ornamented in this manner (p. 152). The bones had been removed from the
fourth wall and were scattered around the crypt. By doing this, there was an empty crypt
...in depth about four feet, in width three, in height six or seven.... which had been
created (p. 152).
Fortunato was intoxicated at this point from all the drinks that Montressor had offered
before. He then told Fortunato to enter where he then in a moment, changed him up to the
granite. "In its surface were two iron staples, distant from each other about two feet,
horizontally. From one of these depended a short chain, from another a padlock. Throwing
the links around about his waist, it was but the work of a few seconds to secure it" (p.
152). Fortunato was taken by surprise but too intoxicated to resist. "The Amontillado!"
Fortunato called out. "True," Montressor replied, "the Amontillado" (p. 152), As those
words were spoken, Montressor was carrying out the last things of his plan. Under the
pile of bones were some building stones and mortar. With these and his trowel, he started
closing up the entrance to the crypt. During this time, Fortunato's intoxication started
wearing off and he started to hear sloe moans coming from inside. "There was a long
obstinate silence. I laid the second tier and the third, and the fourth; and then I heard
the furious vibrations of the chain. The noise lasted for several minutes, during which,
that I might have hearken to it with more satisfaction" (p. 152). Now how could a sane
person keep working while listening to the moaning and the movement of the chains? How
could a sane person get a feeling of satisfaction from that? That is one of the things
that make Montressor insane before he commits the act of inhuman murder. Just as the wall
was about chest level, Montressor peeks in and then hears the "loud and shrill
screams..." that came from Fortunato. For a short time, Montressor was frightened and he
trembled, but he realized that no one could hear him so he started re-echoing him. Then
it grew quiet again. As the task was almost complete, a low laugh could be heard from the
interior of the niche. It was accompanied by a somewhat sad voice. Ha! ha! ha! --he! he!
--A very good joke, indeed--an excellent jest. We will have many a rich laugh about it at
the palazzo--he! he! he!--over our wine--he! he! he! (p. 153). Montressor responded and
echoed Fortunato's laughter. Fortunato then reminded Montressor that it was getting late,
and that people would start looking for them. Let us be gone, Fortunato said. Yes, 
Montressor said, let us be gone. Fortunato cried out, For the love of God, Montressor!
And he replied, Yes. For the love of God! (p. 152). Then there was a silence. 
Montressor then called out for Fortunato, but there was no reply. He then again looked
inside and he let the torch fall. "There came forth in return only a jingling of bells. Y
heart grew sick; it was the dampness of the catacombs that made it so...I forced the last
stone into place...I re-ereceted the old rampart bones. For the half of a century no
mortal had disturberd them..." (p. 153).
That last paragraph just shows that at the very end, he felt a little guilt, but he was
too rapped up in what it was done for, that he found something else to blame for him
feeling that way. This whole essay explains that he was insane. It shows you the steps
and the actions that this man had done just to get revenge. No sane man would plot this
out so well that no mortal hasn't touched the "grave" site for a half of century.