The Tell-Tale Heart & The Cask of Amontillado

       "The Tell-Tale Heart" and "The Cask of Amontillado" are two of the best short horror stories I have read. They are both written by Edgar Allen Poe and are written from the murderer's perspective. The unique style of Poe adds a quirkiness that pulls the reader's interest. Although the two stories share a lot of characteristic  the characters, atmosphere and tone are very different.

       The main characters in the two stories (the narrator & Montressor) effect the way you look at the story. In "The Tell-Tale Heart", the narrator (the caretaker) is nervous and irrational, unlike Montressor in "The Cask of Amontillado" who is confidant and arrogant. These characteristic effect the two stories outcome and  the characters credibility. The narrator is telling the story to prove his sanity to the listener. On the other hand, Montressor is relating the events in a conversational manner and to prove a point or an argument. The narrator's effort in proving his sanity gives the opposite effect, while Montressor's conversation proves his point precisely. The narrator's motives are illogical; his reason to kill the old man was because of his eye. In contrast to Montressor who expresses "The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult I vowed revenge". The fact that Montressor never explains the nature of the insult however, make us doubt his logic as well. What both characters do share is that they both have obvious psychological problems. 

       The setting and mood in the two stories are one of the most significant aspects in the story's development.  In "The Tell-Tale Heart" the murder occurs in the old man's house, while In "the Cask of Amontillado" the murder takes place in Montresso's pallazo. The murder scene is symbolic of the murder's nature. The narrator attacks the old man in his house and bedroom symbolizing the innocence of the old man and his trust to his caretaker by not locking his bedroom door. Meanwhile, Montressor murders Fortunato in his own house and in his own terms in his catacombs. They both chose a late hour at night to execute their plan. The narrator though, was waiting for the eye's appearance for he did not have the heart to kill the man, he just wanted to kill the evil eye. Monterssor on the other hand, strategically chooses a carnival night, so no one wold notice i someone was missing. "The Tell-Tale Heart" is full of superstitious ideas of the evil eye that it makes the entire murder ridiculous and unfair. The major thoughts in "The Cask of Amontillado" are thoughts of sweet vengeance and triumph. Both stories raise the readers anticipation when they state from the beginning of the story that they have murdered someone. They only state how the murdered in the end of their tale, making i a nerve wrecking experience for the readers.

        The murder plan and success rate are both stories highlights. The narrator in"The Tell-Tale Heart" waits an entire week to plan proceed with his murder. In contrast to Montressor, who seemingly just had to make his resolve and execute his vow for vengeance in one night. The narrator stalks the old man every night and puts a dull light on the evil eye waiting in silence and patience to end its being. Montressor on the other hand, psychologically lures Fortunato into following him with his own will to his own doom with the confidence of a king. The narrator flips the old mans bed over him which kills him instantly. The he disemberes him brutally to hide him under the loose floorboards in pieces. Montressor chains his friend in a stone chamber in his catacombs, walls him up and leaves him to his death. The narrator gets himself caught when he screams that he can still hear the old man's heart beat under the floorboards in the presence of the police, which leads us to believe that he is in some sort of asylum. In contrast to Montressor, Who tells the story fifty years after it's occurrence and proudly boasts that no one ever found out about it.

        "The Tell-Tale Heart" and "The Cask of Amontillado" are both psychological horror stories about two cold blooded murderers who tell the story without an ounce of regret. The stories both main characters show kindness to the ones the murdered before murdering them. They both share the same theme of murder and suspense. "The Cask of Amontillado" is more frighting in my opinion because of the unsettling thought that the murder was never discovered. Montressor's arrogance and boasting of the success of his plans almost makes the murder right and that alone is gruesome.