THE thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult I vowed revenge. You, who so well know the nature of my soul, will not suppose, however, that gave utterance to a
threat. At length I would be avenged; this was a point definitely, settled --but the very definitiveness with
which it was resolved precluded the idea of risk. I must not only punish, but punish with impunity. A wrong is
unredressed when retribution overtakes its redresser. It is equally unredressed when the avenger fails to
make himself felt as such to him who has done the wrong.
It must be understood that neither by word nor deed had I given Fortunato cause to doubt my good will. I
continued, as was my in to smile in his face, and he did not perceive that my smile now was at the thought of
his immolation.
What is the purpose of the author's description of Montresor's encounter with Fortunato above?
The author is foreshadowing the misfortune that will happen to Fortunato.
This description is included as a part of the setting of the story
The nuthor is contrasting the innocence of Fortunato with the maliciousness of Montresor
The author is giving the reader a background of the friendship between these two characters.