Symbolism

“The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe includes several elements which can be interpreted symbolically. Here, we will focus on the following:

• The title
• The names
• The vault
• The lights, wines and chains

The vault

The vault in which Montresor keeps wines and the earthly remains of his ancestors becomes symbolic of death and a burial cask, being described as wet and cold:

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The lights, wines and chains

The “brightly burning lights” further contribute to the symbolism related to death, as candles are usually used in the wake of the dead.

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