"The Cask of Amontillado" by Edgar Allan Poe

“For the love of God, Montresor!”
“Yes,” I said, “for the love of God!”

The above quote is interesting due to the setting of this short story. Although the name of the city is not specified and neither is the year, we know that the setting took place somewhere in Europe, which to me signals the Catholic religion. Due to the language used in this story, I can make the assumption that the story took place many years ago, perhaps sometime during the 18th century. Being that I also am from Europe and know about the culture and a lot about the history, I am reasoned to make the assumption that the men of this story were in fact Catholic. The above quote also supports my assumption due to the use of God’s name in Fortunato’s pleas, as well as Montresor’s reply.
What is significant about my assumption is the fact that despite his possible religious views, Montresor commits a horrible crime, which is viewed as one of the worst sins by the Catholic church. The conversation between the two men seems very friendly and to my surprise, Montresor does not seem nervous. He is very calm and feels no remorse for the crime is about to commit. He possesses the qualities of the devil, who is immoral and remorseless. He has no point or reasoning for what he does. He does not seem to be led by anger or any specific feeling at all. His reply to Montresor’s pleas, although using God’s name, is very calm, cold, and heartless.
Montresor’s reply may also seem like he is murdering Fortunato for the love of God. I get a feeling of Montresor justifying his actions through God’s name. Such actions lead me to believe Montresor to be insane since he does not state a reason for his hatred towards Fortunato. It is obvious and apparent to all that murdering in the name of God, in the Catholic religion, is not only a sin but ironic as well. God does not want his followers to kill because by doing so, they are going against what God has created. Montresor’s mind state is very questionable and so is his manipulative character.
Could it be that my assumption is completely wrong and Montresor did not believe in religion? Absolutely. But it is essential to note that if he was, for example, an atheist, he would not have used God’s name in his reply to Fortunato, and/or he would have ignored Fortunato’s pleas completely. This entire story goes against what most people believed in during that time, when it came to religion. It is, simultaneously, ironic and dark, and so is the narrator of the story.