Montresor: Character Is What You Are In The Dark
Dwight Lyman Moody once said 'Character is what you are in the dark.' In other words your true nature is on the inside. This quotation is true because very often characters hide who they truly are. In “The Cask of Amontillado”, Edgar Allan Poe shows that your true nature is on the inside through Montresor's inner thoughts, actions, and his deceptive behavior. In “The Cask of Amontillado”, Montresor shows that your true nature is on the inside by his inner thoughts. “You, who so well know the nature of my soul, will not suppose, however, that I gave utterance to a threat.” What Montresor is saying in is that to other people that knew him would be uncharacteristic of him to be a threat.In addition Montresor further provides evidence that “Character is what you are in the dark” through his actions. “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.” This means he smiled at Fortunato and he thought it was because they were friends, but really it wasn't. His true nature is on the inside because through his actions he portrays to be something while on the inside only he knows his true intentions. It is proved by Montresor’s actions when he offers his arm to Fortunato, “...offering him my arm. He leaned upon it heavily.” Montresor is letting Fortunato who at this time is not in his right state to lean on him for support but his true intentions is that he is going to kill him.Montresor's actions differ from what he is planning to do.
The quotation is proved by the deceptive nature of Montresor. When he uses reverse psychology to get Fortunato down in the catacombs. 'My friend, no; I will not impose upon your good nature. I perceive you have an engagement. Luchesi--' In this dialogue it illustrates that Montresor is using that good nature of Fortunato and his love for old wine to lure him in so he can punish him. '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.' He is not being considerate when concerning about Fortunato's health. He doesn’t allow his true nature that is on the inside show by being evasive. When Fortunato starts coughing and then tells Montresor that he will not die of a cough, it shows that he doesn't really care and uses manipulative tactics that are misleading to get his way.
Montresor in “The Cask of Amontillado” shows that “Character is what you are in the dark” by his inner thoughts, actions, and his deceptive nature. His inner thoughts show his true intentions for the night. His actions doesn’t show that he plans on killing Fortunato. Also Montresor’s display of his deceptive behavior although reverse psychology which is a form of manipulation.
