"The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could; but when he ventured upon insult, I vowed revenge....

In Edgar Allen Poe's famous story, "The Cask of Amontillado", Fortunato met a most unfortunate fate after slighting a man and greedily following him to the wine cellar! The spectre of Poe haunts the final resting place of the unsuspecting jester!

I first read "The Cask of Amontillado" in 9th grade, and I remember feeling haunted when Fortunato was sealed into the wall of the wine cellar. It opened me up to the dark mind that is Poe!

I hastened to make an end of my labour. I forced the last stone into its position; I plastered it up. Against the new masonry I reerected the old rampart of bones. For the half of a century no mortal has disturbed them.

Copyright Misty Benson. All Rights Reserved.