In Edgar Allan Poe's short story "The Cask of Amontillado," the character Fortunato is a victim of the narrator's revenge. The name Fortunato, which means "fortunate" in Italian, is ironic because Fortunato is ultimately not fortunate at all.
Fortunato is a wealthy, arrogant, and self-proclaimed connoisseur of wine. He is described as being "rich, respected, admired, beloved; [and] happy" by the narrator. However, Fortunato's pride and hubris lead him to underestimate the narrator, who is secretly plotting to murder him.
Throughout the story, the narrator lures Fortunato deeper into the catacombs beneath his palazzo, using the promise of a rare wine, Amontillado, as bait. As they descend, the narrator continually taunts and insults Fortunato, playing on his pride and ego. Despite the warning signs, Fortunato is unable to resist the lure of the wine and follows the narrator blindly.
Ultimately, Fortunato's fate is sealed when the narrator seals him alive behind a brick wall, leaving him to die in the dark and damp catacombs. Fortunato's name, which should imply good fortune, becomes a cruel joke as he meets a gruesome and untimely end.
In "The Cask of Amontillado," Fortunato serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of pride and hubris. His name, Fortunato, serves as a ironic reminder that appearances can be deceiving and that even those who seem fortunate can fall victim to the consequences of their own actions.
