Edgar Allan Poe was a great writer of the 19th century, best known for his poems and short stories. Among his stories, “The Barrel of Amontillado” really stands out for the unique atmosphere you get from reading it. The atmosphere of "The Cask of Amontillado" right from the introduction is dark, eerie and disturbing. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay "The Cask of Amontillado" is told from the point of view of Montesor, a proud man who wants revenge on Fortunato, who habitually mocks Montesor. Because Poe tells the story as if it came from the mind of a murderer, the thoughts we see are vengeful and fueled by hatred. Also, Poe showed us his emotions and feelings, which makes him seem sane and normal, which is not what most people want to believe a murderer is, they like to think of him as deranged. Poe's language makes you think that it may be difficult to tell who is capable of such a heinous crime and who would never do such a thing. Additionally, the dialogue and writing are all very formal and proper, which adds to the idea that killers aren't necessarily what you might think, you would almost expect a killer to be from the underbelly of society. The dark theme is further brought to light in how Montesor's violent actions are depicted. Poe was never descriptive of how the murder occurred, leaving plenty of space for the reader's mind to run wild. For example, it was never said what happened after the wall was sealed. You might think that Fortunato remained there for days before dying of hunger or thirst. It could also be plausible that when Montesor threw the torch into the wall, Fortunato or the ground around him caught fire and he was burned, or it went out and he was left in the dark. It is possible that he went mad and lost touch with reality or killed himself. The way Poe leaves holes allows the reader's worst fears to become a possibility in the story. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay To conclude the essay, “The Cask of Amontillado” is a centuries-old story that has been heard by millions of people around the world. With Poe's striking and unique use of words to convey a mood dark, it's no wonder why he is so successful in horror stories. It's truly amazing how well Poe portrays the dark atmosphere that makes his stories so unique.