Recommendation : "The Cask of Amontillado"

We have read a variety of short stories these past couple weeks. The “Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allen Poe was definitely the most interesting and is the story I would recommend to a friend.  The story contains a plot that is creative and has you wanting to read further into the story. It takes place in a carnival setting, which foreshadows unfortunate events to come. What makes the “Cask of Amontillado” so thrilling is that it is told in first person. We get first hand details and thoughts from the mind of a psychopath. Readers easily get to see the story unfold from the eyes of Montressor.

Although Montressor is thought of as an unreliable narrator, we get the excitement of trying to decipher his unexpected actions. We become familiar with his character and that helps us understand the reasons behind his attempts to lure Fortunato into the catacombs. It also causes us to question the Motif of the story at times, because Montressor does such a good job pretending to care for Fortunado. Fortunato had a number of chances to escape with his life, but was sucked into the brilliant plot that Montressor improvised. This “Cask of Amontillado” would be perfect for anyone that is interesting in reading a story with great amounts of suspense and thrill. This short story could be read multiple times and never get old.

            

Bring on the Afternoon!

 

            Nippers by name, seems like a character that is not likely to be take seriously. Viewing his face book page would give you a better idea of who he is. His profile picture would portray a picture of a humorous man, who seems serious. His face in the picture would look extremely uncomfortable because of his uncontrollable indigestion. He would unintentionally have people laughing at his pictures because of his hilarious facial expressions. To add to the humor, all the pictures of him would be of him dressed in his work suit. Nippers has a way of knowing how to dress for an occasion. He is described to dress in a “ gentlemanly sort of way.”

            Nipper’s relationship status would be listed as single. He is a bachelor that has his occasional guys night out with Turkey, an office companion. His indigestion would make it hard to keep a woman around, because his stomach acts up as the day goes on. On his wall I could picture furious women writing of the horrible date they experienced due to Nippers uncontrollable gas. Nippers would write back frantically only to be rejected from a second date.             Further down his profile there is a career application describing his job and people he works with. To help relieve some of his morning frustrations Nippers would write of his day and how he is in desperate need of a new desk. His part in the story was minuscule, but it was entertaining to become familiar with his character.

"The Cask of Amontillado"

 

            “ It must be understood that neither by word nor deed had I given Fortunato cause to doubt my good will. (25)” From the beginning Montresor presents himself as a con artist luring Fortunato into his death tomb. Lying is what cons specialize in; they go to great extremes to make sure their plans are successful. Obviously, Montresor has this well thought out plan to kill his so-called “friend”. The story begins with him announcing the sweet revenge he his about to initiate. He clearly states, “I must not only punish but punish with impunity.” Montresor expresses his deep hatred towards him; hatred that only a mad man could fathom.

            As the story goes on, Montresor uses his con artist tactics to lure Fortunado into the catacombs. His efforts are so slick and sly that anyone would have thought they were best friends enjoying their time together at a carnival. The act was so convincing that I was fooled when first reading the short story. The perfect example is when the two enter the Nitre filled catacombs. Fortunato seems to be sick and the fumes coming from the walls cause him to cough repeatedly. Montresor pretends to be concerned by asking questions and offering to turn back. Finally he urges him to drink the Medoc as a “ Proper Caution.” This provokes Fortunato to keep going, falling deeper into his death trap. The bottom line is that Montresor has a sick, twisted mind and has no regard for the life of a human being. He laughed, as the bricks were stacked around Fortunado’s helpless body. His consumption of the wine throughout the day made him irrelevant to Montresor’s evil plan. I understand that Fortunado had a love for wine, but it cost him his life. It is all these villainous gestures that lead me to believe that Montresor is an unreliable narrator.  

The Other Universe of Bruce Wayne

 

            In an alternate universe I would be the worst wrestler in the state and high would have been the utmost miserable experience. There would not have been any post victory celebrations or girlfriends cheering me along the way.

            Alternate universes can be great or horrible depending on a person’s lifestyle. Bruce Wayne and I would not normally think of what life would be like in an alternate universe. Life is great the way it is, why imagine the down side? Maybe, by imagining the down side you can realize the life you have is precious. Bucky Sinister describes “The Other Universe of Bruce Wayne” in his poem in great detail. I imagine he is trying to describe the downside of life and how everyone is might not as fortunate as Bruce Wayne.  Instead of writing this poem in a traditional form it seems sloppy and tells more of a story.

            In the poem Bucky includes himself as Bruce Wayne’s best and only friend. Bucky is there to comfort him no matter what hour of the night. He uses cigarettes and whiskey to calm his nerves. Originally Bruce would never rely on alcohol to forget about his problems or disadvantages. In this alternate universe Bucky stresses that Bruce cannot live without it. He could also be expressing how people in the world rely on alcohol when they are down. It is a weak trait that Bucky seems to try and emphasize. Towards the end of the poem I began to think this alternate universe was true.  Slipping away from reality is not difficult. That is why it takes a strong person with aspirations and goals to make it in the life we live in today. Bucky explains to Bruce at his lowest stage in the poem that in another universe, he is loved and symbolizes justice. It his way of being optimistic, explaining that there is always an upside to life. 

Under the Lights

 

 

Gorging yourself on weekends is the way,

But not with practice in the morning

Calories I will be burning

It is the price I must pay,

Hours I spend in the wrestling room

Incoming freshman are always doomed,

It is a process we must undergo

Someday they will be on top

Training hard is worth a shot,

Only the best will show

What it takes to be under the lights,

Each match is similar to a fight

Getting your hand raised is the key

Then a champion you will be

 

Fearless Tiger

 

            The childlike quality of the poem seems to be an important factor, one that is emphasized by the illustration. While the questions about the creation of the Tyger (apparently through industrial processes), put the questioner in apparent awe of the Tyger, the illustration shows a lack of emotion: the Tyger seems dazed and indifferent, certainly not the terrifying, awe-inspiring being described in the poem. But at the same time it seems that the tiger is only that position because it is ready to strike. With its bulky build and robotic frame the creation of God would tear any animal to shreds. Because Blake doesn’t like industrial processes, it seems that the creation of such a terrifying being as the Tyger could not have come from the same original, natural creation of the Lamb. This might be another childish view: if the God who created the Lamb, also created the Tyger, He might not be an entirely benevolent deity, and that would be a scary thought for a child. The poem is obviously more impressed with the tiger because a lamb is far from being capable of performing some of the actions a tiger can. The descriptions of the furnace, hammer, and anvil, and the general construction of the Tyger, might be a child’s way of imagining how God could create something.

The effect of the final stanza is incredibly important, because of the change in wording. At the beginning of the poem, the child was asking: “what immortal hand or eye, could frame thy fearful symmetry” but after a battery of questions involving the Tyger’s creation/creator, the child asks, “what immortal hand or eye, dare frame they symmetry?”

-Justin Arredondo

            

 

The Metro Station

The Metro Station

  Ezra Pound’s poem can be interpreted as pro- modernity because she is in a setting with many people. She is also in a metro station for some reason that is unknown to us. There is the possibility that Pound is catching the train to another city. That would back anyone’s point of this poem being pro- modernity, because she believes in a rapid transit system and is taking advantage of the one in her city. The underground railroad is a unique transportation system; big cities benefit from this because not everyone if fortunate enough to be able drive everyday. It is a quick and safe way to travel in a busy city. She is picky with her choice of words, but each has a vital meaning to the poem. When describing the faces she sees in the metro station Pound says they are an unexpected sight. I thought was unusual because when a person enters a metro station they should be prepared to be nearly trampled by many people trying to get to work on time. Pound reacts as if it was her first time in an underground station.

The net line in this poem takes a complete three hundred and sixty degree turn. This point could also lead some people to believe this poem is anti- modernity. From unusual faces in a crowd, the poem turns to “Petals on a wet, black bough.” My thoughts and mental images came to a halt and I had to reconsider the meaning when I first read this. These ideas are on two opposite sides of the spectrum, but they are somehow linked. Pound could possibly be describing a nearby view she has from the station. It seems as if she is trying to express her love for nature and is longing to leave the city limits.

 

-Justin Arredondo

 

 

-Justin Arredondo