Montresor influences readers with the opening sentence: "The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could; but when he ventured upon insult, I vowed revenge." This manipulates the reader because now we are expecting a revenge story. What did Fortunato do to make the narrator so angry? What will the revenge be? Will the narrator get away with it? The reader may find themselves siding with Montresor in his quest for revenge or feeling pity for Fortunato (or even both).
All of these help build the story's suspense.
Poe also uses irony to influence the readers. My students particularly enjoy how Montresor toys with Fortunato. For example, when Fortunato states that he is suffering from a cough but it won't kill him, Montresor agrees . . . and it is dramatic irony because we suspect that his cough certainly won't kill him . . . Montresor will.
This irony is repeated when Fortunato asks if Montresor is a member of the freemasons (a rather notorious secret society). It is clear now that Montresor is not on the same social level as Fortunato. However, while Fortunato can laugh at Montresor for not being part of the "brotherhood." However, Montresor has the final laugh for he produces a "trowel." By now the reader might be able to guess Montresor's revenge.
Even the ending is left open to debate. If the bones haven't been disturbed for fifty years, then he got away with it. But what about Fortunato's family? Why did Montresor finally confess his crime?
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