This ark story by Edgar Allan Poe is made more interesting by the irony he uses to increase tension, enhance horror, and communicate the theme. It is ironic that we only have Mentor’s word for what happened, but yet he is an unreliable narrator. Mentors can be considered an unreliable narrator because he never gives any details of the “ thousand injuries” he has suffered at the hand of Fortunate or how he was insulted. Mentors says, muff, who so well know the nature of my soul, will not suppose, however, that gave utterance to a threat.
This is ironic cause the reader does not know the nature of his soul and has no way of knowing because the reader has Just been briefly introduced to the narrator. Irony is also shown when Mentors says, “ It must be understood that neither by word nor deed had I given Fortunate cause to doubt my good will. ” Mentors is so upset at Fortunate that he plans to kill him, but then says that he has never given Fortunate the least cause to doubt that he is his good friend. Not only is irony shown in Mentors being our narrator, but in other parts of the story as well. Poe also uses irony frequently in the dialogue. For example, when Fortunate coughs in the catacomb from the damp air, Mentors seems to worry about his ill- health, and asks him to return to the surface.
“ We will go back; you will be ill, and I cannot be responsible. Besides, there is Lectures “ Enough,” he said; “ the coughs a mere nothing; it will not kill me. I shall not die off cough. ” “ True –true,” I replied; This is ironic because we know that Fortunate health is not a concern for Mentors and that he is sure that Fortunate will not die from a cough, but by his own hands. Another example can be seen when Mentors runs into Fortunate and says, “ My ear Fortunate, you are luckily met. ” Fortunate thinks that Mentors is fond of him and is glad to run into him. On the other hand, Mentors actually hates Fortunate and is only happy to see him because now he can carry out his plan to kill him.
There are many examples of irony in the dialogue, as well as situational irony that is used throughout the story. It is ironic that in this story a man of misfortune should be named Fortunate. The Italian name Fortunate suggests good fortune, luck. However, Fortunate is anything but fortunate; he is going to his death.
