The Cask of Amontillado themes and summary of main characters

-- Anonymous, May 25, 2003

Answers

The cask of the Amontillado was written right after Poe was sued by one of his former friends. Poe won the case, but his reputation was shattered, as his problems with drinking, drugs and gambling showed up at trial. The main theme of the story is betrayel and revenge. The main character felt cheated and used by the other character, so he got him drunk, and walled him up within the crypt beneath his house. Poe seems to use walls often when writing his murder stories, the victims in the Black Cat, and the Tell Tale Heart are also walled up behind the wall or floor.

-- Anonymous, May 27, 2003