Symbolism in "The Cask of Amontillado"

Edgar Allan Poe's short story "The Cask of Amontillado" contains many rich symbols.

It is a story deeply shrouded in mystery and destruction for the character of Fortunato, and although Fortunato does not realize it, he is going to meet in his fate on the night of the carnival. What is worse, is that he will meet this untimely death at the hands of someone he believes to be a friend.

Fortunato's friend Montressor is not really his friend at all, and he lures Fortunato down into the catacombs and dungeons in order to show him a cask of Amontillado that he has acquired. Believing Montressor to be his friend, Fortunato follows him into the catacombs. The first noticeable symbol in the Poe's story is the black silk mask and cape that Montressor puts on before he enters the catacombs. It is representative of...
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