Discussion Topic
Montresor Family Motto in "The Cask of Amontillado"
Summary:
In Edgar Allan Poe's "The Cask of Amontillado," Montresor's family motto, "Nemo me impune lacessit," translates to "No one insults me with impunity." This motto reflects Montresor's motivation to avenge perceived insults by Fortunato. The family coat of arms, depicting a foot crushing a serpent, symbolizes Montresor's intent to punish without consequence. However, the authenticity of the motto and coat of arms is questionable, as Montresor might have fabricated them to mock Fortunato, reflecting his deceitful nature.
What is the family motto of Montresor?
Montresor's family motto is the Latin expression "Nemo me impune necessit," which can be roughly translated as “No one who insults me gets away with it.” It's clear from this motto that Montresor comes from a long line of nobles who simply will not tolerate insults from anyone, no matter who they are. If their motto is anything to go by, Montresor's family must be fiercely proud and quick to take offense. And if Montresor's behavior toward Fortunato is anything to go by, they never let an insult go unavenged.
Readers never get to discover exactly what it is that Fortunato is alleged to have said or done that Montresor found so deeply insulting. All we know is that, according to Montresor, he suffered a “thousand injuries” at his hands. The implication is that Fortunato must have insulted Montresor's honor in some way.
Whatever he did—if indeed he...
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actually did do something—it was serious enough for Montresor to exact a truly bloodcurdling revenge on Fortunato. By killing Fortunato by walling him up alive inside a catacomb, Montresor is most certainly living up to his family motto. The man who supposedly insulted him has most certainly not gotten away with it.
What is the Montresors' family motto in "The Cask of Amontillado"?
As they traverse the narrow labryinth of the Montresor family catacombs, Fortunato asks about the Montresor coat of arms when Montresor remarks that his family was prolific and the vaults are extensive.
"I forget your arms."
"A huge human foot d'or, in a field azure, the foot crushes a serpent rampant whose fangs are embedded in the heel."
The motto on this coat of arms is in Latin--Nemo me impune lacessit--which means that no one will attack a Montresor without being punished. So, of course, Montresor wants Fortunato to envision this coat of arms since the avenger is following exactly what is inscribed on the family crest. For, in the first paragraph Montresor as narrator has said that a wrong is
unredressed when the avenger fails to make himself felt as such to him who has done the wrong.
Clearly, Montresor tries subtly to make himself known.
What is the motto on Montresor's coat of arms in "The Cask of Amontillado"?
When they arrive underground, Fortunato asks about Montresor's coat of arms and Montresor, the first-person narrator of the story, tells him it is "A huge human foot d'or, in a field azure; the foot crushes a serpent rampant whose fangs are inbedded in the heel." Fortunato asks: "And the motto?" Montresor replies: "Nemo me impune lacessit," which means "No one injures me with impunity." This may or may not be Montresor's coat of arms and Latin motto. He might be inventing the whole thing for his secret amusement. After all, he has not been telling Fortunato the truth since he encountered him in the street. The cask of Amontillado is undoubtedly a sheer fiction. It is quite possible that Montresor does not have a coat of arms at all. It is possible that Fortunato suspects Montresor's family is of humble origins and is only trying to embarrass him, thinking he might force Montresor to confess that his family doesn't have a coat of arms. The coat of arms that Montresor describes is an extravagant one--a huge golden human foot crushing a snake with its fangs embedded in the heel! This may actually be Montresor's coat of arms, but it seems not only fantastic but too appropriate for the occasion. It almost seems as if Montresor is warning Fortunato--in Latin!--of what is about to happen to him down there in the underground vaults.
Why is Montresor's family motto appropriate in "The Cask of Amontillado"?
Montresor has been lying to Fortunato consistently since they met on the street. There is no reason to believe that Montresor is telling the truth in the following exchange:
“I forget your arms.”
“A huge human foot d'or, in a field azure; the foot crushes a serpent rampant whose fangs are imbedded in the heel.”
“And the motto?”
“Nemo me impune lacessit.”
“Good!” he said.
More is going on here than is immediately apparent. It seems likely that Fortunato is being disingenuous. Montresor is not an aristocrat. He does not have a coat of arms or a family motto. He knows that Fortunato is only being his usual cruel self. The coat of arms that Montresor invents is totally bizarre. Imagine a huge human foot! And a golden one, at that! Would the foot be bare? Would we see all the toes? Wouldn't a knight be wearing something protective on the foot? Wouldn't an enemy just laugh at a knight who had a big golden foot on his shield? Isn't Montresor intentionally making the picture look ridiculous?
The motto, of course, goes with the coat of arms--but both may be pure inventions. Fortunato is drunk and doesn't really understand why his intended insult didn't have the intended effect of making Montresor feel humiliated. It would seem, too, that Fortunato does not understand Latin. This may be Montresor's way of retaliating for the intended insult: He satisfies himself that Fortunato may be rich but is not educated.
Naturally the motto is appropriate if Montresor invents it to suit his present purpose. The fact that it is so appropriate actually suggests that it is an invention. Montresor is not murdering Fortunato because it is mandatory in his family tradition to exact revenge for injuries; he is killing him because he hates him. It is a personal matter, not a part of a family code of honor. In fact, it can hardly be said that what Montresor is doing is "honorable."
Montresor's family motto is "Nemo me impune lacessit," or "No one insults me with impunity." This is very fitting because the small injuries that Fortunado has caused Montresor over the years has pushed him past his control. He wants to punish Fortunado to the fullest for his insults. He does this by conning him into going into his catacombs (after a cask of wine that doesn't exist). Once they get to the end, Fortuanado is quite drunk and is easily chained to the wall and walled into a small brick room. He punishes him without any penalty, since no one is any longer in the house--all the servants were out for the evening.