The Cask of Amontillado Edgar Poe was born in Boston, Mass., on Jan. 19, 1809. His parents were touring actors. He was orphaned at age 3, and taken into the home of John Allan, a merchant of Richmond, VA. His wife raised Edgar as her son, but Allan accepted the boy largely to please her. Later Poe took Allan as his middle name. Although several characters are mentioned in this story, the focus is on Montresor, the diabolical …showed first 75 words of 548 total…

…showed last 75 words of 548 total…of a cough." Montresor says, "True--true...." (820). This story is evidence of Poe's mastery. I thoroughly enjoyed this story's intricate and masterful plot. There is so much going on behind the words. Every detail contributes to a certain unique effect. The reader perceives something that the character in the story does not. I could not read more than a paragraph at a time without stopping to revel in the implications and possibilities of what is written.