Literary Analysis Of Short Stories: The Cask Of Amontillado, The Possibility Of Evil, The Fall Of A City, And The Sniper

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The Price of Pride

Allen Edgar Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado” is short story of two friends, where one murders the other to avenge himself. To start with the beginning, Poe makes the opening of the story interesting by starting it with a hyperbole. Montresor says, “Fortunato had hurt me a thousand times” (Poe, 68). This catches the reader’s attention. Poe creates a dark and suspenseful mood in the beginning, and maintains the eerie and dreadful mood throughout the story. The story begins at the close of the day, a dark evening, with a small meeting between two characters, Montresor and Fortunato. The beginning of the story takes place in an empty street, but most of it takes place inside Montresor’s catacombs. Montresor says to Fortunato, “And the vaults are cold and wet.” (Poe, 69). The author makes a good use of imagery to describe Montresor’s catacombs, which are dark, “cold and wet” and filled with bones. It is the type of atmosphere, where one wants to sit on the bed, without moving and making any noise; it fills me with anxiety. Poe is able to set up such a morbid mood and atmosphere effectively, with the use of words that relate to death, dread and darkness. For instance, in the story, Montresor says, “We went on deeper and deeper into the earth. Finally we arrived at a vault in which the air was so old and heavy that our lights almost died” (Poe, 71). The author uses a vindictive and malicious tone.

The symbolism in the title is quite impressive. The cask is very similar to casket in purpose – to store. While the cask is used to store wine, the casket is used as storage for corpse, when buried. This also foreshadows that the story involves death. Poe’s use of symbolism in the setting of the story is commendable. The setting of the story changes from an alley to Montresor’s catacombs, just like from freedom to confinement. As they go further into the catacombs, Fortunato’s chances of freeing himself out of that place decreases, as he also nears his death. Poe makes an excellent use of ironies in the story. Fortunato’s name itself is quite ironic. I think it is funny as Fortunato means fortunate – the one with luck. But after reading the story, it is clear that he is unlucky to have walked right into death. A good instance of verbal irony is when Montresor offers some Medoc to Fortunato and toasts him: “And I, Fortunato – I drink to your long life” (Poe, 70). Montresor wants Fortunato to know that he wants him to live a “long life”, but actually he is planning his death. Montresor’s words contradict his feelings and desires.

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Moving on to characterization, Poe uses first person narration, which gives a better look into Montresor’s evil and shrewd mind. He is vengeful and the author clearly illustrates that in the very first paragraph of the story. Poe’s use of indirect characterization for Montresor, the villain protagonist, is perfect. His plan of using Fortunato’s weakness he has for wines shows how sharp and crafty he is. When thinking about his plans, Montresor exclaims “Wine would give me my revenge!” (Poe, 69). He makes sure that there is nothing that can expose him so he kills him without weapons. He is cunning enough to know how the human brain works, and it is evident in the way he plans to get the house empty: “I had told the servants that they must not leave the palace, as I would not return until the following morning and they must care for the place” (Poe, 69). Montresor even mentions Luchresi so that Fortunato wants to check the wine immediately. As for Fortunato, he is a static character, and has mostly been described directly. He is a “strong man”, who addicted to wine.

The story revolves around two main themes. The first theme is revenge. Montresor claims that Fortunato has wounded him many times, and so he wants to avenge himself. Montresor’s desire for revenge is so powerful that he murders Fortunato in a very cruel way, using his weakness. The second theme is pride. Montresor is very proud of his family name, and so when Fortunato insults it, his pride was affected. His pride could not take that blow, and this motivates him for his revenge. Even Fortunato is proud about his ability to judge wines by tasting. He cannot tolerate when Montresor chooses someone else to check the Amontillado. His pride forces him to go with Montresor and taste the rare wine, even though he is very drunk. Such things often happen in the real world too, where an individual does many things without thinking just to satisfy their pride and ego. These two themes are responsible for the major conflict in the story, which is between Montresor and Fortunato. The story also highlights guilt and remorse. In the end, Montresor fights his conscience, as he feels remorse for walling Fortunato. Many times, we feel guilty after doing something wrong, which often in the end makes us confess our wrong doings. This story reminds me a lot of Poe’s another short story “The Tell-Tale Heart”, as in the end the narrator was guilty and later, confessed his crime.

I really like the story. It creates suspense in the starting. I was thinking about what Montresor is going to do next. It also has a touch of mystery to it.I love the imagery used in the story- the entire journey through the catacombs, which reminds me of the time I visited a haunted house in Malaysia. In the end, I can’t help but wonder if Fortunato’s actions are really worth the punishment he receives, as I don’t believe in revenge. The story illustrates that hurting someone’s pride or insulting them won’t bring us any good.

The Facade of Evil

“The Possibility of Evil” is a short story written by Shirley Jackson. It is about an old woman who is obsessed with getting rid of the evil in the society. The title “The Possibility of Evil” itself foreshadows that the story includes something evil. The story takes place in many locations in a small happy town. The atmosphere is refreshing and pleasant. The author creates such an atmosphere by describing the weather; “The sun was shining, the air was fresh and clear after the night’s heavy rain, and everything in Miss Strangeworth’s little town looked washed and bright” (Jackson, 223). The author’s ability to make such a positive image of the town is quite commendable; it makes me believe that the town is joyful and untroubled, even though it is not how it seems. Jackson is successfully able to change the mood throughout the story. Later in the story, Jackson states that, “Miss Strangeworth never bothered with facts; her letters all dealt with suspicion” (Jackson, 226). The mood turns doubtful and uncertain when Miss Strangeworth writes the letters, as there is no proof that they are true. The atmosphere becomes tense when Miss Strangeworth walks on the “dark” street, holding a “black” pocketbook, to mail the letters. Jackson’s diction has set such moods effectively.

Jackson’s use of symbolism is quite commendable. The roses symbolize Miss Strangeworth’s character. A rose is a beautiful flower, with lovely red pink petals. But behind these petals are the thorns, which can hurt. Just like a rose, she covers her bitter and cruel face with her happy and social nature. The “big black leather pocketbook” shows successful use of alliteration, as it draws attention to the pocketbook. The pocketbook carries the evil and its black color adds on to it. The letters are not only symbolic but ironic. The letters symbolize Miss Strangeworth’s character. The bright c carry ugly messages, as one would generally assume that such letters would carry delightful messages. An example of verbal irony is when Mrs Strangeworth assures Helen Crane, “All babies are different. Some of them develop much more quickly than others” (Jackson, 224). But this is not what Miss Strangeworth really feels about the baby. We know that from the letter she writes to Don Crane, in which she calls their baby “idiot”. There is an occurrence of dramatic irony. “The third caught on the edge and fell outside….She did not notice it” (Jackson, 227). Miss Strangeworth drops letter addressed to Don Crane and fails to “notice” the letter. It makes me overly nervous, as I know that Miss Strangeworth is going to get caught soon. The situational irony at the end is the most unanticipated part of the story. Mrs Strangeworth would have never expected her roses to be destroyed as an act of revenge. Everyone in the town knew how precious those roses are to Mrs Strangeworth, and yet they were ruined, that too in her way, along with a letter that says, “LOOK OUT AT WHAT USED TO BE YOUR ROSES” (Jackson, 228). The author does brilliant job there.

Miss Strangeworth is the protagonist of the story. She is a blue eyed, old woman, who takes pride in her roses. She is observant and obsessed with ridding the town of evil. But from inside, she is cruel and bitter, causing turmoil in other’s lives. The minor characters in the story are mostly directly characterized and, are static and flat. Mr Tommy Lewis, the grocer, is a happy man, but in the story he looks “worried” and “tired” after receiving a letter. Mrs Martha Harper is another character Adela meets at the grocery store. Next we are introduced to Helen and Don Crane who are young parents and obsessed with their baby daughter. Linda Stewart is a fifteen-year-old girl. Dave Harris. There are other characters such as Miss Chandler, Mrs Foster and Mr Stewart. I think Jackson has done a really good job in making the reader believe that something is wrong, since the characters seem to be out of their behaviours.The “Possibility of Evil” shows the double-faced personality of humans. The setting quite matches with this theme, and so do the symbolism of rose and letters. Miss Adela Strangeworth appears to be a kind and happy old lady, whereas she is cruel and unkind. This is something we often see in our society. We never know if the people are actually who they appear to be. Many times, they act differently just to hide their real faces. Another theme is the Karma. Miss Strangeworth causes chaos in everyone’s lives and in the end it is her who suffered in a similar way. The main conflict in the story is between Miss Strangeworth and the society. She assumes that there is evil prevailing in the society and sends letters to people to let them know of it. But she is the one actually causing evil. The letters remind me of the messages sent to the main characters of the T.V show “Pretty Little Liars”. The messages, like letters, were causing chaos and tension in their lives. Since the letters were not based on truth. The story to the gossips and rumours that are a part of human nature.

While reading, there were several unexpected events such as Miss Strangeworth writing the letter and the ending. The entire story is quite ironic. Miss Strangeworth, who thinks she is removing the evil, is the most evil of all. It truly shows the negative nature of the society. In the end, the story conveys that finding evil in others often makes one overlook the evil in them.

The Loss of Imagination

Alden Nowlan’s “The Fall of a City” is a short story about a little boy and his imaginary kingdom. The story takes place is a house, where Teddy, his uncle and aunt live, on a rainy day. It is raining heavily: “Outside, rain fell with such violence that great, pulsating sheets of water seemed to hang suspended between the earth and sky” (Nowlan, 1). Such weather gives the story a gloomy and sad mood. In the beginning, Teddy is alone in the attic. His loneliness also adds to the cheerless weather. The author uses imagery to describe the Kingdom of Upalia. I like how the author shows a change in the language. The author’s style of writing is casual once Teddy leaves the attic, as he is an eleven year old boy and would most probably not be talking in formal language. But when the Kingdom of Upalia is described, historical war related terms are used. “Through the square below rode the squadrons of lancers, dragoons and hussars, batteries of horse artillery; behind them marched regiments of infantry” (Nowlan, 1). The language used here is formal, as this time it is not Teddy, but King Theodore.

The author uses amazing symbolism in the story. King Theodore symbolizes power and respect, something that Teddy craves for. King Theodore rules his kingdom and is able to defeat those who harm him, unlike Teddy. The Kingdom and Upalia and its paper citizens symbolize Teddy’s world, his escape from real life. Here, he is treated with respect and is able to save his kingdom. There is an occurrence situational irony in the story is when teddy destroys his imaginary city: “He bent and seized the cardboard palace” (Nowlan, 3). Teddy makes the city in the first place, and he, as King Theodore should be protecting it. But, he ends up ruining the city.

The author mainly mostly uses indirect characterization. Teddy is the protagonist. He is a lonely boy who lives with his aunt and uncle. I like how the author has used metaphors and similes to show Teddy’s character. “Teddy watched the raindrops roll like beads of quicksilver down the glass of the high, diamond-shaped window, and listened to the muted banjo twanging on the roof” (Nowlan, 1). Teddy compares the raindrops to beautiful beads and their sound to music. These two literary devices show Teddy’s innocence and optimism. He is imaginative, and has built his own city of cardboard and paper. But he is insecure and cannot defend himself against his uncle. The antagonists of the story are Teddy’s uncle and aunt. They are mean to him. His uncle is ignorant and often teases Teddy. His pretentious and controlling aunt often sides with her husband, but later sympathises with him.

The story revolves around one major theme- the impact of hurtful words. Teddy’s uncle and aunt tease and embarrass him, when they discover his imaginary city. They do not realize the effect of their words on Teddy. As a result, out of embarrassment and anger, he ends up ruining his city. Often, adults don’t realize how impactful their words can be on children, even though they might be just joking. They never realize how their words can influence the children. Another important theme is the sexist nature. Teddy’s uncle is sexist and mocks him for playing with “paper dolls”, which he believes are for girls. He teases him, “The next thing we know, you’ll be wanting us to put skirts on you!” (Nowlan, 3). It is clear, Teddy is embarrassed of this. Children are taught to do things according to their gender, from a young age. Even though we have progressed a lot, such gender stereotypes still haven’t completely vanished.

This story is really good. It highlights important themes that can affect a child. It conveys the message that adults must support and encourage children rather than mocking them.

The War Between Brothers

Liam O’Flaherty’s “The Sniper” is a short story about a sniper and his fight with his enemies. The story takes place at the time of the Irish Civil War, between the Republicans and the Free Staters. The story is set near the O’Connell Bridge in Dublin, Ireland. It is night time and gunshots are heard everywhere. “Machine guns and rifles broke the silence of the night, spasmodically, like dogs barking on lone farms.” (O’Flaherty, 1). The author uses a simile to explain the setting, showing that no one was out on the streets. The mood created is foreboding, alarming and full of suspicion. The author’s choice of words to describe the settings creates a violent atmosphere. The setting is quite interesting and makes me want to read more. I like how the author maintains the mood throughout the story and the ending is quite dark. The story begins with an IRA sniper on the rooftop. The infrastructure around him saves him from the bullets many times. The setting plays an important role in exposing his location, as it is night time and his cigarette light is seen properly. I think the author has done an excellent job with the setting. The author’s tone is serious and intense.

One of the symbols in the story are guns and rifles. They symbolize destruction and violence as they are used in wars. The old woman symbolizes the ordinary citizens that die in wars. “The old woman is not fighting the war; she is not a soldier, yet she is killed. It symbolizes the loss of innocent lives. The author has used personification several times in the story. “ The cloud of fear scattered from his mind” (O’Flaherty, 1).This doesn’t literally mean that there is a cloud in his head, but rather that he is no long scared. The personification used here gives the reader a better idea of what is happening in the war zone. There is an irony towards the end of the story when the sniper realizes that the other sniper is in his brother. “Then the sniper turned over the dead body and looked into his brother’s face” (O’Flaherty, 3). The sniper, unknowingly, kills his brother in the end. This is the most unexpected and dark part of the story. This situational irony comes out as a shock and brings out a lot of sad emotions in the reader. It also shows the theme of the story.

Moving on to characterization, none of the characters are named. The protagonist of the story, the Sniper of the Republicans is a young boy, excited and ready for the war. “His face was the face of a student, thin and ascetic, but his eyes had the cold gleam of the fanatic” (O’Flaherty, 1). He is undisciplined as he exposes his location by taking a smoke. Rest all characters are static characters. The rival sniper, from the Free Staters, is the antagonist of the story. It is later revealed that he is the brother of the IRA sniper. Another Free Stater is the soldier in the turret, who arrives in an armoured car. He is killed by the sniper before he could shoot him. There is an old woman too who informs the soldier in the turret if the sniper’s position. She too is killed by the sniper.

The main theme of this story is war and its consequences. War often kills the humanity in the person. The sniper kills whoever is a threat to him, to save himself. Even the woman who is not a part of the war. In the end he kills his brother. In several wars before, innocent lives were lost. This story shows that war and violence turns every relation irrelevant. This reminds me of the T.V series “Vikings”, where the brothers fight against each other in the war. It can also affect the person mentally. The sniper feels joy after he hits his enemy, but soon feels guilty. “He became bitten by remorse” (O’Flaherty, 3). This is the internal conflict the sniper faces. This is so true in real life, as several soldiers suffer from PTSD after returning from wars. Civil wars can be worst as the two parties fighting were once together.

One can imagine the whole story playing in their head, it had quite graphic visuals. In this age of war and violence, we forget about peace, compassion and humanity. The story is really good as it tells us how war can impact a person and the whole society.

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