In The Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allen Poe, the dark side of human nature is illustrated through the character of Montresor and his victim, Fortunato. Montresor is a manipulative and vengeful person whom is obsessed with the downfall of Fortunato. Through the acts, words, and the thoughts of Montresor, one is able to see him carry out his plan for revenge. Montresors actions lend to his vengeful and manipulative nature. He lures Fortunato into the catacombs of his home to carry out his plans to kill Fortunato.
In the first step of his plan, he boosts Fortunatos ego by saying that Luchesi was almost as worthy a judge of wine as he. Then Montresor tricks Fortunato into believing that there is an expensive pipe of wine in the depths of his catacombs. When they finally reach their destination, Montresor shackles him to the wall, constructs a tomb around him using bricks, and leaves him there to die. It is indicated that in the past that Fortunato has hurt Montresor many times, The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult I vowed revenge.
However, there were never any insults or unkind acts actually mentioned in the story. It is exactly the opposite. Fortunato was friendly and helpful towards Montresor. From the very beginning of the story, one can obviously see that Montresor thinks that Fortunato has wronged him. He had a weak point-this Fortunato-although in other regards he was a man to be respected and even feared. This line shows that Montresors plan was well thought out. There is not any indication of what Fortunato thinks about Montresor.
It can only be assumed that he trusts him do to the fact that he follows Montresor into the catacombs. It is up until the last moment, before the last brick is laid, that Fortunato believes this is all a joke. Ha! Ha! Ha! He! He! He! a very good joke, indeed-an excellent jest. Montresor is successful in his plan for vengeance. He succeeds in having Fortunato follow him into the catacombs and with great ease, had him up against the wall and shackled.
Then tier-by-tier, Montresor constructed Fortunatos tomb of bricks around him. When Montresor called out to him, he heard nothing and thus his plan was a success. In pace requiescat! The final lines show the success of Montresors plan, as well as his deep dark emotions within. Montresors vengeful nature made him unable to rethink the evil deed he had just committed. His only concern was to avenge the insults that had happened only in his mind. And it was in his mind that he conceived this evil plan.