What are the personality similarities between Montresor in "A Cask of Amontillado" and Emily Grierson in "A Rose for Emily"?
Wow. That's a really good question. I've never really put the two characters together but there are definite similarities. Both come from families that were once wealthy and influential but when their stories take place, both their fortunes and social standing have deteriorated. Both still live in the old family home and both take advantage of aspects of their homes to hide the bodies of their victims.In addition, both of their crimes seem to stem from an insult. Montressor's family was insulted by Fortunato and Miss Emily was insulted when Homer refused to marry her. Neither Emily or Montresor is punished for his/her crime. They both seem to be able to "punish with impunity." And, the reader questions the sanity of each characters. However, the characters do differ in some respects. Montresors wants to kill Fortunato and then never see him again. He obviously has no emotional attachment to the...
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man. However, Emily kills Homer and then keeps him in a place where she has access to his body. She is obviously living out some sick fantasy with Homer, whereas Montresor simply wanted to rid himself of Fortunato. We also don't know much of the background of Montresor so it's difficult to say what caused him to be so revengeful. So we tend to identify with the horror Fortunato must have felt at the end of the story. However, we do understand much of Emily's background and I think that allows us to have more sympathy for her and less for her victim.