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The Cask of Amontillado’s Epilogue

Edgar Allan Poe’s The Cask of Amontillado short story continues with an inexplicable twist and satisfies the crazy hunger for knowing what occurs after Montresor is rid of Fortunato. Montresor, the defendant, finally enters the court where the verdict would be read. The courtroom is full and people are heard whispering here and there having heard of the inhumane act that Montresor has allegedly done to a fellow human being. After all in the courtroom, including Montresor, have sat down, the trial starts. 

The prosecuting attorney takes to his feet and states that from the pieces of evidence they have gathered, Montresor is guilty of the murder of Fortunato. The prosecuting attorney adds that they have found Fortunato’s bones under Montresor’s house. The DNA tests evidence that the bones were Fortunato’s. The attorney adds that despite the fact that they are unable to prove whether Fortunato went there by force or willingly, they could, nonetheless, prove that murder was covered. The left human bones were discovered behind something that looked like a wall made of bricks. Looking at the photos of the remains, the judge shakes his head. Alongside Fortunato’s bones, other bones were also found, suggesting that Montresor might have killed other people as well. During the attorney’s presentation, Montresor shamelessly looks down while people can be heard murmuring.

The defense attorney then begins by stating that the defendant is highly regretful and remorseful of his actions that resulted in the Fortunato’s death. The attorney adds that Fortunato is a sick a man and never understood what he was doing since he was insane, reasoning that an insane mind does not comprehend or know what he is doing. Thus, he requests the court to allow the defendant to be put in a mental hospital since he needs to be treated to avert similar situations and cases. The attorney explains that it is crucial for an insane individual who has the capability of killing other people to be kept away from society and be subjected to professional treatment. The attorney adds that in his insane condition, Montresor got obsessed with Fortunato when he could not get the attention he needed from the deceased. According to the defense attorney’s submission, Montresor has been suffering from severe depression as a result of the obsession that he had had with Fortunato. The attorney further argues that if the accused is sentenced to life time imprisonment, his stress and depression may increase and he may even terminate his life. People who suffer from depression are highly predisposed to commit suicide. Therefore, the attorney urges the court to have mercy on Montresor and allow him seek psychiatric services, contending that the tragedy would have been avoided had the illness been discovered in good time.

The court is filled with awe, sympathy and empathy both towards the defendant and the deceased. During this time, the judge remains busy jotting down notes. The jury is treated to a dilemma case of distinguishing between unstable psychology (where the psychological condition of Montresor varies from time to time) and a pathological psychology (whereby the accused is in a condition that propels him to torment Fortunato).

The judge eventually rules that Montresor is in a stable mental state since he is still alive and can recollect everything that occurred after fifty years. The judge further states that the accused became obsessed with anger after Fortunato told him that he is a member of freemason cult and he chooses to torment him, resulting to murder. In his concluding remark, the judge rules that the defendant cannot be insane since he was a freemason and, therefore, the jury ruled that Montresor is sentenced to a life time imprisonment since they find him guilty as charged with first degree murder.