Poe may have been inspired to write the story by his own real-life desire for revenge against contemporary literary rivals. Further, Fortunato is depicted as an expert on wine, which Montresor exploits in his plot, but he does not display the type of respect towards alcohol expected of such experts. However, Poe also leaves clues that Montresor has lost his family's prior status and blames Fortunato. Scholars have noted that Montresor's reasons for revenge are unclear and that he may simply be insane. At the end of the story, Montresor reveals that 50 years have passed since he took revenge and Fortunato's body has not been disturbed. For unknown reasons, Montresor seeks revenge upon Fortunato and is actually luring him into a trap, entombing him alive within the catacombs. Fortunato follows him into the Montresor family vaults, which also serve as catacombs. Montresor invites Fortunato to sample amontillado that he has just purchased without proving its authenticity. Illustration of "The Cask of Amontillado" by Harry Clarke, 1919
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