Cask of Amontillado

It’s the second week of classes and so far I am enjoying all of the readings that were assigned to us. I will be discussing the reading and analysis of the story “Cask of Amontillado”. I have read this book before in 9^th grade and I can definitely see a difference in my ability to analyze motifs and themes in literature. One main theme is that of revenge and pride. Montresor is a well-known man that comes at odds with a wine connoisseur Fortunato who has been going around accusing Montresor of not being an authentic Mason. The main symbol for the theme of revenge is the Montresor coat of arms, which is a foot smashing the head of a snake. The motto is that no man who wounds the honor of a Montresor will not go unpunished; which is true in this case. Montresor tricks Fortunato into following him, during carnival, down his catacombs. There waiting in the catacombs is supposed to be a cask of Amontillado, but instead Fortunato’s tomb awaits him. Fortunato is drunk and tricked into the hole in the wall where he is chained by his hands and waist. Montresor then continues to make tiers of bricks where the wall was broken, forever trapping Fortunato to his fate. This is personally one of my favorite short stories.

First Week of Classes, Becoming a Writer

This is officially the first in the series of posts for my English 102 class. So for my peers reading this, disregard the pervious posts before this one. Even though class has been canceled twice I have been keeping up with all the readings so far. To start the class off we were assigned to read an excerpt called ‘How to Become a Writer” by Lorrie Moore. Its main purpose is to give her advice on the struggles of being a writer. I did enjoy the style of her writing; I thought it was quirky and original. By making it in second person I believe Moore is trying to get the reader to envision themselves in her shoes, it also felt sort of like a flash back. Moore’s main criticisms from others is that she has a lack of plot, and that is essentially the theme of the excerpt, but that doesn’t necessarily mean there is no reasoning or deeper meaning to the writing. I think a lack of plot is fitting, there is no “plot” when it comes to living life, and Moore has experienced this first hand. She explains that people had doubts about her choice in profession, but continues to do what she believes in. Sometimes that just how life works and what she is criticized the most for becomes what makes her an individual writer.