Why does Montresor seek revenge against Fortunato?
a. Fortunato insulted Montresor.
b. The two have hated each other for a long time.
c. Fortunato knows more about wine than Montresor, and Montresor is jealous.
d. Montresor is drunk because of the carnival and does not know what he is doing.
a. Fortunato insulted Montresor.
The correct answer is a. Fortunato insulted Montresor.
To determine why Montresor seeks revenge against Fortunato, we need to carefully analyze the details given in Edgar Allan Poe's short story, "The Cask of Amontillado." While there is no explicit answer provided in the story, we can make an inference based on the information given.
In the story, Montresor states that Fortunato has "injured" him many times and that he "must not only punish but punish with impunity." This suggests that Montresor's desire for revenge is rooted in some form of perceived harm or injury done by Fortunato.
Option a, Fortunato insulting Montresor, is a possible reason for seeking revenge. If Fortunato insulted Montresor in a significant way, it could have triggered his desire for vengeance.
Option b, the long-standing hatred between the two characters, is not explicitly mentioned in the story, and there is no indication that they have hated each other for an extended period.
Option c, Montresor's jealousy towards Fortunato's knowledge of wine, is also not directly mentioned in the story. While Montresor does mention Fortunato's "connoisseurship" and his knowledge of wine, it is not clear whether Montresor's revenge is motivated solely by jealousy.
Option d, Montresor being drunk during the carnival and not knowing what he is doing, is unlikely. Although Montresor states that Fortunato will not recognize him due to his costume and the carnival atmosphere, there is no suggestion that Montresor's actions are a result of being drunk or unaware of his intentions.
Given these options, the most plausible answer is a. Fortunato insulted Montresor. However, it's important to note that while this answer is likely, it is still subject to interpretation, as the story does not explicitly state the exact reason for Montresor's desire for revenge.