Irony is the contrast between our anticipations and reality, between what is said and what is really meant, between what we expect to happen and what really happens. In “The Cask of Amontillado,” Edgar Allan Poe uses dramatic and verbal irony to develop his characters and plot. The reader is aware from the beginning that Montresor hates Fortunato and lures him into the catacombs to take revenge. Fortunato's expectations in tasting the amontillado (wine) are far from the reality of what actually happened in the story. In this story Poe develops only two characters Montresor and Fortunato. Ironically, the name Fortunato means luck and/or chance. How lucky was Fortunato when, despite his name, the story was very unfortunate because he was led to his death. In “The Cask of Amontillado,” Edgar Allan Poe uses irony to tell the dramatic story of a gentleman who seeks revenge to find pleasure. Montresor's words to Fortunato are an excellent example of verbal irony. The discrepancy between the spoken word and its true meaning, “I told him – 'My dear Fortunato, you have met by fortune. How remarkably well you look today'” (Poe 1612). The story is set in the carnival period, Fortunato dresses up as a madman with a cap and jester clothes. His costume is an example of dramatic irony: we know that Fortunato is being made fun of, but he is not aware of it. Poe sets the stage for his story with the ironic contrast of the setting. During Mardi Gras (Shrove Tuesday), the festival is the last opportunity to celebrate before the Christian season begins (Sexton and Oster 205). Mardi Gras is bright, colorful and lively. It's a celebration of life, full of costumes, dancing and laughter. Yet, in the midst of this celebration of life, M...... middle of paper ......t the new brickwork I re-entered the old bastion of bones. For half a century no mortal has disturbed them. In pace requiescat” (Poe 1616). Montresor's crime was not discovered and his revenge was carried out at his leisure. Throughout the story, we see how Poe uses irony to develop Montresor's character by seeking revenge for his own pleasure. As stated by James W. Gargano, “[The Cask of Amontillado] degenerates into an aesthetic trick, a mere matter of skillful manipulation…” Without a doubt, we see how the story starts from Montresor's skillful manipulation of Fortunato to pursue his revenge. His use of irony easily expands, “the theme of revenge for its own sake” (de Assis 225). Despite the numerous hints of irony that Montresor provides in the story; Fortunato's arrogance does not allow him to see beyond Montresor's real intentions; thus causing his death.