The Cask of Amontillado - Das Fass von Amontillado recap

Montresor vows revenge on Fortunato for an unspecified insult and waits until carnival, when disguise, noise, and drinking will protect his plan. Knowing Fortunato's pride in his wine expertise, he claims to have bought a cask of rare Amontillado and says he may ask their rival Luchesi to authenticate it. Fortunato insists on judging it himself and follows Montresor from the crowded streets into the damp family catacombs. Montresor repeatedly offers to turn back because of Fortunato's cough, while using the prospect of Luchesi to keep him moving. At a remote niche, he suddenly chains Fortunato to the wall. Montresor then bricks up the entrance despite his victim's struggles, screams, and final plea. He conceals the new wall behind a pile of bones and reveals that the tomb has remained undisturbed for fifty years.

Montresor explains that he has endured many injuries from Fortunato but resolves on secret revenge after an insult. During carnival he meets Fortunato, who is costumed as a jester and has been drinking. Montresor exploits the man's confidence in his knowledge of wine by saying he has acquired a cask of Amontillado but may ask Luchesi to test it. Fortunato dismisses the rival's judgment and insists on going immediately. Montresor leads him beneath his home into damp catacombs lined with family remains. He keeps offering to turn back because Fortunato is coughing, but each mention of Luchesi strengthens Fortunato's determination. Montresor supplies more wine and maintains a friendly manner while guiding him to a narrow recess. There he chains Fortunato to the wall and reveals stored masonry materials. As Montresor builds a wall across the opening, Fortunato struggles, screams, tries to laugh the act away as a joke, and finally appeals to God. Montresor sets the last stone, replaces the bones before the niche, and leaves Fortunato entombed. Fifty years later, he says the remains have never been disturbed.

At the innermost recess of the catacombs, Montresor chains Fortunato to the stone and begins sealing the opening with bricks and mortar he had hidden nearby. Fortunato first reacts with disbelief, then screams and shakes his chains. Montresor answers his cries until Fortunato falls silent. Near the end, the prisoner attempts to treat the situation as a carnival joke and suggests that they return to the waiting company, but Montresor only repeats his words. Fortunato's last response is an appeal to God. Montresor finishes the wall, replaces the bones that concealed the niche, and leaves him entombed alive. He closes his account by saying that nobody has disturbed the remains for half a century, confirming that his plan escaped discovery.