The main character, Montresor’s, detailing of events of revenge as a premeditated murder against Fortunato. The writer uses a form of flashback by mentioning the injury and insult inflicted by Fortunato upon Montresor in the beginning of the story to give explanation to the detailing of revenge. The writer also uses flashback in visualization of the events to come from Montresor’s planning of his revenge on Fortunato. Poe is using flashback to tell the entire story from 50 years after the tragedy has taken place. With the imagery the writer uses for visualization of each setting and events such as; their trip through the vaults and catacombs in search of the Amontillado throughout the story, he creates suspense at different intervals. Montresor gave Fortunato the opportunity to create conflict by giving him the option to turn back and not continue with their journey, but since he chose to continue on, conflict was essentially avoided until the “end” of their journey. The turning point of the story is when Fortunato realizes his predicament of being chained to the wall of the inner recess of the catacomb and bricked in, is not carried out in jest but in malice and his death is imminent.
