Orignal Paragraph

Edgar Allan Poe successfully uses irony in his short story “The Cask of Amontillado” to show that Montressor has a different set of moral values then the rest of society.

“You are not of the masons”
“Yes, yes,” I said, “yes, yes.”
“You? Impossible! A mason?”
“A mason,” I replied.
“A sign,” he said.
“It is this,” I answered, producing a trowel from beneath the folds of my roquelaure.

Poe uses verbal irony to convey Montressor dark beliefs. When Montressor claims he is a mason he does not mean a Freemason only a person that is about to lay brick. Instead of correcting Fortunado Montressor only continues on his scheme. This example shows how Montressor values deceit and it shows how Fortunado is being a kind soul and is interested in Montressors life. While Montressor is physically leading Fortunado to his death he also leads Fortunado on a mental journey with trickery and deceit. Montressors ironic phrases prove that Montressor moral values of revenge and deceit differ from the rest of society.