Question

Compare and contrast cask of amontillado and possibility of evil

Answer 1

The Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allan Poe and The Possibility of Evil by Shirley Jackson both explore the theme of revenge. In The Cask of Amontillado, a man plots to take revenge on an acquaintance, while in The Possibility of Evil, a woman seeks revenge on an entire town. In The Cask of Amontillado, the revenge is premeditated and plotted out, while in The Possibility of Evil, the revenge is more spontaneous and opportunistic. In both stories, the characters are motivated by feelings of anger and betrayal, but they handle their emotions differently. The Cask of Amontillado focuses more on horror and foreboding, while The Possibility of Evil is more subtle and psychological.

Answer 2

Both "The Cask of Amontillado" by Edgar Allan Poe and "The Possibility of Evil" by Shirley Jackson explore themes of revenge and justice. In "The Cask of Amontillado," Montresor seeks revenge against Fortunato for an unspecified insult. He lures Fortunato into his catacombs, where he chains him up and eventually buries him alive. In "The Possibility of Evil," Miss Strangeworth seeks justice by exposing the secrets of her small town. She sends anonymous letters to the townspeople, revealing their secrets and scandals, in an attempt to bring justice to the town.

Both stories explore the consequences of revenge and justice. In "The Cask of Amontillado," Montresor is successful in his plan, but his actions bring him no satisfaction or remorse. In "The Possibility of Evil," Miss Strangeworth is also successful, but her actions ultimately bring her more harm than good. In both stories, the consequences of revenge and justice are explored and the readers are left to decide for themselves the morality of the protagonists' actions.