Final answer:
In Edgar Allan Poe's 'The Cask of Amontillado,' Montresor's final words 'In pace requiescat' indicate satisfaction and the completion of his revenge, suggesting a farewell to Fortunato and a twisted expression of mercy.
Step-by-step explanation:
When Montresor utters "In pace requiescat", which translates to "rest in peace," at the end of Edgar Allan Poe's The Cask of Amontillado, he is likely experiencing a blend of satisfaction and finality after having successfully executed his carefully planned revenge against Fortunato. This Latin phrase is traditionally said in farewell to the deceased, indicating Montresor's recognition that his gruesome deed is complete and irreversible. Montresor, who has just entombed Fortunato alive in the depths of the catacombs, is sealing not just the crypt but also the conclusion of his meticulous plan. Throughout the story, Poe establishes a dark and ironic tone, with subtle hints of what is to come, such as when Montresor shows Fortunato the trowel, symbolizing the mason's craft of wall-building - a foreshadowing of Fortunato's fate.
The final words "In pace requiescat" can also be seen as Montresor's twisted act of mercy, granting Fortunato peace in death, which he could not find in life due to the perceived wrongs that drove Montresor to such extreme vengeance. It might also reflect Montresor's relief that his personal justice has been served, and that he can now move on from the grudge that has consumed him. The phrase hence encapsulates the complex intertwining of justice, satisfaction, and the inexorable end of life, all crucial elements woven into the fabric of Poe's tale.