The Cask Of Amontillado - Ea Poe

[jb_dominick]

Everyone knows the story "[i]Cask of Amontillado[/i]," right? Well it's an Edgar Allan Poe story, and it's my homework assignment to attempt in creating a plausible alternate ending to the story. Or more accurately, attempt in writing like Poe. I'm not so sure it's all "great," and stuff, I'm not a writer... So you can see how I can measure up with one of the great literaturists of our time such as Poe.

Anyway, my assignment is to create an alternate ending to this story. I gave it my best effort, but I feel the need of it to be read by someone else. In my attempts of writing an alternate ending, I had to take all the qualities of Montresor (perspective and antagonist of the story) and infuse it the best way I can. His sarcastic "in-your-face" attitude, demented morals and eerie personality is all I tried to mimic.

So without further ado, I'll present my work! The following is the entire story of "[i]Cask of Amontillado[/i]" with my alternate ending included. (It's best to be read AFTER you read the story, and is in now way a direct link through the story.) Poe's work is illustrated in a gray font, my work is illustrated in a blue font. Simple, no? Here we go:

[b]THE[/b] thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult, I vowed revenge. You, who so well know the nature of my soul, will not suppose, however, that I gave utterance to a threat. AT LENGTH I would be avenged; this was a point definitively settled -- but the very definitiveness with which it was resolved precluded the idea of risk. I must not only punish, but punish with impunity. A wrong is unredressed when retribution overtakes its redresser. It is equally unredressed when the avenger fails to make himself felt as such to him who has done the wrong.

It must be understood that neither by word nor deed had I given Fortunato cause to doubt my good will. I continued as was my wont, to smile in his face, and he did not perceive that my smile NOW was at the thought of his immolation.

He had a weak point -- this Fortunato -- although in other regards he was a man to be respected and even feared. He prided himself on his connoisseurship in wine. Few Italians have the true virtuoso spirit. For the most part their enthusiasm is adopted to suit the time and opportunity to practise imposture upon the British and Austrian MILLIONAIRES. In painting and gemmary, Fortunato, like his countrymen , was a quack, but in the matter of old wines he was sincere. In this respect I did not differ from him materially; I was skilful in the Italian vintages myself, and bought largely whenever I could.

It was about dusk, one evening during the supreme madness of the carnival season, that I encountered my friend. He accosted me with excessive warmth, for he had been drinking much. The man wore motley. He had on a tight-fitting parti-striped dress and his head was surmounted by the conical cap and bells. I was so pleased to see him, that I thought I should never have done wringing his hand.
I said to him -- "My dear Fortunato, you are luckily met. How remarkably well you are looking to-day! But I have received a pipe of what passes for Amontillado, and I have my doubts."

"How?" said he, "Amontillado? A pipe? Impossible ? And in the middle of the carnival?"

"I have my doubts," I replied; "and I was silly enough to pay the full Amontillado price without consulting you in the matter. You were not to be found, and I was fearful of losing a bargain."

"Amontillado!"

"I have my doubts."

"Amontillado!"

"And I must satisfy them."

"Amontillado!"

"As you are engaged, I am on my way to Luchesi. If any one has a critical turn, it is he. He will tell me" --

"Luchesi cannot tell Amontillado from Sherry."

"And yet some fools will have it that his taste is a match for your own."

"Come let us go."

"Whither?"

"To your vaults."

"My friend, no; I will not impose upon your good nature. I perceive you have an engagement Luchesi" --

"I have no engagement; come."

"My friend, no. It is not the engagement, but the severe cold with which I perceive you are afflicted . The vaults are insufferably damp. They are encrusted with nitre."

"Let us go, nevertheless. The cold is merely nothing. Amontillado! You have been imposed upon; and as for Luchesi, he cannot distinguish Sherry from Amontillado."
Thus speaking, Fortunato possessed himself of my arm. Putting on a mask of black silk and drawing a roquelaire closely about my person, I suffered him to hurry me to my palazzo.

There were no attendants at home; they had absconded to make merry in honour of the time. I had told them that I should not return until the morning and had given them explicit orders not to stir from the house. These orders were sufficient, I well knew, to insure their immediate disappearance , one and all, as soon as my back was turned.

I took from their sconces two flambeaux, and giving one to Fortunato bowed him through several suites of rooms to the archway that led into the vaults. I passed down a long and winding staircase, requesting him to be cautious as he followed. We came at length to the foot of the descent, and stood together on the damp ground of the catacombs of the Montresors.

The gait of my friend was unsteady, and the bells upon his cap jingled as he strode.

"The pipe," said he.

"It is farther on," said I; "but observe the white webwork which gleams from these cavern walls."

He turned towards me and looked into my eyes with two filmy orbs that distilled the rheum of intoxication
.
"Nitre?" he asked, at length

"Nitre," I replied. "How long have you had that cough!"

"Ugh! ugh! ugh! -- ugh! ugh! ugh! -- ugh! ugh! ugh! -- ugh! ugh! ugh! -- ugh! ugh! ugh!"

My poor friend found it impossible to reply for many minutes.

"It is nothing," he said, at last.

"Come," I said, with decision, we will go back; your health is precious. 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. We will go back; you will be ill and I cannot be responsible. Besides, there is Luchesi" --

"Enough," he said; "the cough is a mere nothing; it will not kill me. I shall not die of a cough."

"True -- true," I replied; "and, indeed, I had no intention of alarming you unnecessarily -- but you should use all proper caution. A draught of this Medoc will defend us from the damps."

Here I knocked off the neck of a bottle which I drew from a long row of its fellows that lay upon the mould.

"Drink," I said, presenting him the wine.

He raised it to his lips with a leer. He paused and nodded to me familiarly, while his bells jingled.

"I drink," he said, "to the buried that repose around us."

"And I to your long life."

He again took my arm and we proceeded.

"These vaults," he said, are extensive."

"The Montresors," I replied, "were a great numerous family."

"I forget your arms."

"A huge human foot d'or, in a field azure; the foot crushes a serpent rampant whose fangs are imbedded in the heel."

"And the motto?"

"Nemo me impune lacessit."

"Good!" he said.

The wine sparkled in his eyes and the bells jingled. My own fancy grew warm with the Medoc. We had passed through walls of piled bones, with casks and puncheons intermingling, into the inmost recesses of the catacombs. I paused again, and this time I made bold to seize Fortunato by an arm above the elbow.

"The nitre!" I said: see it increases. It hangs like moss upon the vaults. We are below the river's bed. The drops of moisture trickle among the bones. Come, we will go back ere it is too late. Your cough" --

"It is nothing" he said; "let us go on. But first, another draught of the Medoc."
I broke and reached him a flagon of De Grave. He emptied it at a breath. His eyes flashed with a fierce light. He laughed and threw the bottle upwards with a gesticulation I did not understand.

I looked at him in surprise. He repeated the movement -- a grotesque one.
"You do not comprehend?" he said.

"Not I," I replied.

"Then you are not of the brotherhood."

"How?"

"You are not of the masons."

"Yes, yes," I said "yes! yes."

"You? Impossible! A mason?"

"A mason," I replied.

"A sign," he said.

"It is this," I answered, producing a trowel from beneath the folds of my roquelaire.

"You jest," he exclaimed, recoiling a few paces. "But let us proceed to the Amontillado."

"Be it so," I said, replacing the tool beneath the cloak, and again offering him my arm. He leaned upon it heavily. We continued our route in search of the Amontillado. We passed through a range of low arches, descended, passed on, and descending again, arrived at a deep crypt, in which the foulness of the air caused our flambeaux rather to glow than flame.

At the most remote end of the crypt there appeared another less spacious. Its walls had been lined with human remains piled to the vault overhead , in the fashion of the great catacombs of Paris. Three sides of this interior crypt were still ornamented in this manner. From the fourth the bones had been thrown down, and lay promiscuously upon the earth, forming at one point a mound of some size. Within the wall thus exposed by the displacing of the bones, we perceived a still interior recess, in depth about four feet, in width three, in height six or seven. It seemed to have been constructed for no especial use in itself, but formed merely the interval between two of the colossal supports of the roof of the catacombs, and was backed by one of their circumscribing walls of solid granite.

It was in vain that Fortunato, uplifting his dull torch, endeavoured to pry into the depths of the recess. Its termination the feeble light did not enable us to see.
"Proceed," I said; "herein is the Amontillado. As for Luchesi" --

"He is an ignoramus," interrupted my friend, as he stepped unsteadily forward, while I followed immediately at his heels. In an instant he had reached the extremity of the niche, and finding his progress arrested by the rock, stood stupidly bewildered . A moment more and I had fettered him to the granite. In its surface were two iron staples, distant from each other about two feet, horizontally. From one of these depended a short chain. from the other a padlock. Throwing the links about his waist, it was but the work of a few seconds to secure it. He was too much astounded to resist . Withdrawing the key I stepped back from the recess.

Blood curling, adrenaline searing, the intense ringing of choler and grit echoed throughout the catacombs. Spit, gore, angst, precipitousness, all slurred into a stew of hatred and revenge. Fortunato lay on the stone and filth, perspiration seeping through his velvet attire.

Amontillado! Fortunato cooed, unaware of the doomed curtain to fall onto the stage of his life. Unbeknownst to him, there would be no encore.

Amontillado!

It was abundant that his life was soon to come to an end, but the impaired man could not see it. Intoxicated with his own forced understanding that there was the desired nectar at the end of his journey. Veiled in false believing, my friend has still not recovered from his astonishment.

Chained to the granite, the drowsy look of despair and shame masked Fortunato. His mind could only comprehend half of what was occurring at present.

Amontillado?

Oh dear friend, please turn back now. I will get Luchesi to fulfill my task. Im willing to bide my time in regards of the cask. Besides, look at the nitre from the wall above your position, Im concerned of your well-being Fortunato! the look of worry and woe swept across my face.



The feeling of dread, the feeling of adrenaline fused with alertness. It creates a void in your inner body; as if your organs are replaced with nothing but the knowing of impending doom. A feeling and emotion we all share. This cataclysmic state of emotion was clear as I lay my eyes on this poor mound of despiteful flesh.

Whats the matter, my companion? You look dreary, I must take you home right way. You look tired and sick, I do not wish for you to pertain to illness. I said.

Amontillado! Amontillado? whined the fortuneless man.
Ahh yes, the cask. I seem to have misplaced it. I could have sworn it lay in my crypt

Misplace?

Oh dear, I wish I would have told you sooner, but as we ventured into this abyss, I was to reminisce it sometime.

Why have you chained me, Montresor?

The drunken essence inside of my friend has been ridded, there was to be no more delay. I found enjoyment of my work as of now. But true satisfaction can only come from the source, not a tipsy irrational being.

Do you know what my favorite animal is? I interjected. Oh how I do fancy animals.

No reply.

It is the snake! How I love the creatures ability to traverse across the land without any limbs or methods of motion! Well, without shifting its body. How I love its profound sense of strength in trickery, not brute. I believe Fortunato was becoming progressively aggravated Due to the rusted links and chains of course. Irritation.

It was not a time for jestering or stalling, my patience for the inevitable grows increasingly thirsty.
But more appropriately, it is the White Tail.

No reply.

Well, this magnificent serpent does actually lack a white tip, but nonetheless it is very deadly.

White tail? came my friends delayed retort.

Well, this magnificent serpent does actually lack the level of fatality as of what you may think Instead its poison really only makes blood boil. I annotated. Here, acquaint yourself with this, I snatched a thick bond of leather, a foot in length, from the pile of expired ossein adjacent from my position. Wrapping it around Fortunados mouth, so as he was absent in the ability to express pain.

I do not enjoy the sound of tormented screams and scowls. It emits woe upon me.

MMMRPH!

Oh dont move, my dear, youll startle Avversa!

The void returned to my friends insides.

A hiss echoed through the crypt. Loud, saliva-drenched and grim.

MMMRPH!

Its too late now. Sleep

The bloodcurdling bite forced the venom inside of Fortunatos neck. The poison which swarmed through his veins, increasing in volume as it infected what blood it touched. The temperature of his cruor rose to an alarming state.

Flesh could be smelled as a scalding concoction, Fortunatos corpse bubbled, gore seeping out from every crevice of his body, a tormenting death without end.

Your anguish breaks my heart, my friend I wish you a long life

Those were the last words that Fortunato heard.

Blood dripping from his carrion, the smell of death fused with the damp, filthy moisture. A most pleasing result. My labor was almost complete. I drew a pocket saw from the pile of skeletal structures beside me, the same hoard from which I hid my leather.

I was to have much work this night.

[i]In pace requiescat![/i]

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Here is Poe's ending:
"Pass your hand," I said, "over the wall; you cannot help feeling the nitre. Indeed it is VERY damp. Once more let me IMPLORE you to return. No? Then I must positively leave you. But I must first render you all the little attentions in my power."

"The Amontillado!" ejaculated my friend, not yet recovered from his astonishment.

"True," I replied; "the Amontillado."

As I said these words I busied myself among the pile of bones of which I have before spoken. Throwing them aside, I soon uncovered a quantity of building stone and mortar. With these materials and with the aid of my trowel, I began vigorously to wall up the entrance of the niche.

I had scarcely laid the first tier of my masonry when I discovered that the intoxication of Fortunato had in a great measure worn off. The earliest indication I had of this was a low moaning cry from the depth of the recess. It was NOT the cry of a drunken man. There was then a long and obstinate silence. I laid the second tier, and the third, and the fourth; and then I heard the furious vibrations of the chain. The noise lasted for several minutes, during which, that I might hearken to it with the more satisfaction, I ceased my labours and sat down upon the bones. When at last the clanking subsided , I resumed the trowel, and finished without interruption the fifth, the sixth, and the seventh tier. The wall was now nearly upon a level with my breast. I again paused, and holding the flambeaux over the mason-work, threw a few feeble rays upon the figure within.

A succession of loud and shrill screams, bursting suddenly from the throat of the chained form, seemed to thrust me violently back. For a brief moment I hesitated -- I trembled. Unsheathing my rapier, I began to grope with it about the recess; but the thought of an instant reassured me. I placed my hand upon the solid fabric of the catacombs , and felt satisfied. I reapproached the wall. I replied to the yells of him who clamoured. I reechoed -- I aided -- I surpassed them in volume and in strength. I did this, and the clamourer grew still.

It was now midnight, and my task was drawing to a close. I had completed the eighth, the ninth, and the tenth tier. I had finished a portion of the last and the eleventh; there remained but a single stone to be fitted and plastered in. I struggled with its weight; I placed it partially in its destined position. But now there came from out the niche a low laugh that erected the hairs upon my head. It was succeeded by a sad voice, which I had difficulty in recognising as that of the noble Fortunato. The voice said --

"Ha! ha! ha! -- he! he! -- a very good joke indeed -- an excellent jest. We will have many a rich laugh about it at the palazzo -- he! he! he! -- over our wine -- he! he! he!"

"The Amontillado!" I said.

"He! he! he! -- he! he! he! -- yes, the Amontillado . But is it not getting late? Will not they be awaiting us at the palazzo, the Lady Fortunato and the rest? Let us be gone."

"Yes," I said "let us be gone."

"FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, MONTRESOR!"

"Yes," I said, "for the love of God!"

But to these words I hearkened in vain for a reply. I grew impatient. I called aloud --

"Fortunato!"

No answer. I called again --

"Fortunato!"

No answer still. I thrust a torch through the remaining aperture and let it fall within. There came forth in return only a jingling of the bells. My heart grew sick -- on account of the dampness of the catacombs. I hastened to make an end of my labour. I forced the last stone into its position; I plastered it up. Against the new masonry I reerected the old rampart of bones. For the half of a century no mortal has disturbed them.

[Lexar]

I'm not going to read all that stuff Poe isn't really all well known around here anyway, so even if I did read it, I wouldn't be able to help you anyway.

[fallenangel]

I like your ending. I'm not good at judging whether or not it sounds like Poe's writing, though. But you just reminded me to get back to work on my massive Lit essay (on Poe...back to The Bells...argh)

Hear the tolling of the bells
Iron Bells!
What a world of solemn thought their monody compels!
In the silence of the night,
How we shiver with affright
At the melancholy menace of their tone!
For every sound that floats
From the rust within their throats
Is a groan.
And the people - ah, the people
They that dwell up in the steeple,
All Alone
And who, tolling, tolling, tolling,
In that muffled monotone,
Feel a glory in so rolling
On the human heart a stone
They are neither man nor woman
They are neither brute nor human
They are Ghouls:
And their king it is who tolls;
And he rolls, rolls, rolls,
Rolls
A paean from the bells!
And his merry bosom swells
With the paean of the bells!
And he dances, and he yells;
Keeping time, time, time,
In a sort of Runic rhyme,
To the paean of the bells
Of the bells:
Keeping time, time, time,
In a sort of Runic rhyme,
To the throbbing of the bells
Of the bells, bells, bells
To the sobbing of the bells;
Keeping time, time, time,
As he knells, knells, knells,
In a happy Runic rhyme,
To the rolling of the bells
Of the bells, bells, bells:
To the tolling of the bells,
Of the bells, bells, bells, bells
Bells, bells, bells
To the moaning and the groaning of the bells.


_________________
"I care about people as much as I care about lawn furniture" - Dexter/Michael C. Hall

[jb_dominick]

Bells. :blink:

Thanks for the compliment ^_^ I didn't have space to write how he gets all chopped up and stuff, so I had to think up of the best delivery possible in then words or less. :lol:

I'm not too good at analyzing styles of writing either, or comparing a form of literature with a copy. But it's nice to know that some people care. ^_^

[fallenangel]

It makes more sense if you read the first three parts of the poem (if you haven't read it before). I have to read it in front of the class and analyze it as part of my presentation. Blah. Not so much for the fact I have to do it, but because I have to listen to 29 [i]other[/i] people recite poetry and biographies of their chosen poet for ten minutes each.

Now if only it was such an interesting assignment as rewriting it instead of dull biographies and literary criticism.
_________________
"I care about people as much as I care about lawn furniture" - Dexter/Michael C. Hall

[jb_dominick]

That must make me like, SUPER lucky. All I have to do is get this write this alternate ending, get it edited to perfection and turn it in to be critisized and raved upon. ^_^ "Nothing under perfection." That's her motto. :rolleyes:

I actually like doing the dull, essay/analysis papers. It separates me from my zany creativity. Most of which, you'd agree is stupid. Besides, I sound more inteligent when I write all serious-like.