Baraban refers to the murder as mediocre and states that Montresor's elaboration on it was a sophisticated philosophy of revenge (Baraban). This tale showcases the theme of mortality because Montresor sought revenge on Fortunato. The word mortality is defined as the state or condition of being subject to death ("Mortality").
The way that Montresor murders Fortunato is an example of a Masonic ritual and could be his justified reasoning for his revenge. This reference could be taken literally by the reader and could bring assumptions of Poe's evolvement in Freemasonry.
Being that during this time it was not something that people were so easy to accept Freemasonry it is understandable as to why Poe would slip references about it in his work. This brotherhood reference can mean that freemasonry feels like a brotherhood to Poe and he wants to indirectly inform people on it. In this dialogue, Montresor not only says he is a mason but refers to it as a brotherhood. It is this," I answered, producing a trowel from beneath the folds of my roquelaire. It is not clear whether Poe was a mason or not but he made sure it was clear that Montresor stated he was during dialogue with Fortunato: Whether you were a mason or not during this time, you knew about it and without intention had some affiliation with it. During this time in American culture, Freemasonry seemed to be a prominent issue that most people today do not know about. Also, Poe's affiliation with Freemasonry may be why he was so easily able to manipulate gothic effects in his works (Davis-Undiano). It's easy to notice signs of possible depression from the themes of his tales and personal issues that he faced. Poe needed to financially support his Aunt and his cousin, Virginia Eliza Clemm Poe, who would become his wife (Delaney). It is known that his main reason for beginning to write like many others was because of his financial situation. Poe needed a way to express his feelings so he used poetry but soon switched to short stories because they were in such high demand. Poe faced many issues with drinking making his financial situation more difficult than it already was. After his foster mother died he was disowned by his foster father. As a child, both of his parents died putting him with a foster family. Throughout Poe's life, he encountered many grueling things that influenced his style of writing. In The Cask of Amontillado, Poe uses his perspective of revenge and mortality to show how individuals justify murder. Montresor took it upon himself to resolve the issues never giving Fortunato the opportunity to explain why he insulted him or the opportunity to apologize and make amends. Since there were never any legal actions, there is only Montresor's point of view of the situation. Montresor's reasons for murdering Fortunato were never lawfully justified. Montresor planned a premeditated murder on his at-one-point friend because he felt required to do so. In The Cask of Amontillado, Montresor seeks revenge on Fortunato because he feels he has betrayed and insulted causing many emotional and mental injuries. At this point in Montresor's life, it can be inferred that he feels his justification for revenge is not valid. Since Montresor is now elder it is possible he feels a sense of guilt for murdering Fortunato. Montresor is approximately seventy to eighty years old when he is confessing to the murder. The murderer, whose name is Montresor, is telling the confession fifty years later which shows that he is older. The Cask of Amontillado is the confession of a man whose thoughts are subject to mortality. In the act of committing a crime, it is for certain the criminal will do anything to justify what they have done whether they are right or wrong. In most of Poe's stories all the characters sound alike but in The Cask of Amontillado Montresor is different and has his own voice (Morsberger 336). Edgar Allan Poe is most known for his short stories containing the same gothic themes.
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