Montresor's Coat Of Arms Motto example essay topic
Montresor knows that getting ultimate revenge on Fortunato has to be done with impunity. If there was any chance Fortunato could get back at him, he would not be successful. The idea of killing Fortunato is one of the only ways a person could exact revenge with impunity. Montresor decides to use the wine vault as Fortunato's final resting place. Clint Kale Pg. 2 This is ironic because Fortunato is well known as an expert in wine. When Fortunato starts coughing Montresor urges him to go back; this only makes Fortunato want the cask more.
Montresor replies, "You are rich, respected, admired, beloved; you are happy, as once I was... "You are a man to be missed."For me it is no matter" (pg. 704). Montresor is bitter, disgraced and probably jealous of Fortunato from the evidence of these quotes. The coat of arms in the Montresor family is one of the biggest clues as to why he killed Fortunato. Montresor describes to Fortunato the picture of his arms: "A huge human foot d'or, in a field azure; the foot crus he a serpent rampant whose fangs are imbedded in the heel" (pg. 705). This is symbolic of the entire story.
Montresor is the serpent and Fortunato is the foot. Fortunato may have trounced upon his feelings but Montresor will have the last laugh when Fortunato becomes poisoned. Toward the end of the story, the reader knows why Montresor killed Fortunato. He now does not seem like the same crazy person he was at the beginning of the story. Although he does kill Fortunato, Montresor keeps a very methodical approach to doing so.
Montresor's coat of arms motto is "Nemo me immune la cessit" (pg. 705). Which means "No one insults me with impunity". This means Montresor is following his family motto perfectly. Which makes it clear why Montresor killed Fortunato. He was protecting the honor in his family.