If one does not recognize the signs in time, the consequences will be fatal, as occurred in the novel. The condition may begin quite acutely with psychosis, but sometimes the symptoms develop gradually over many weeks or months (Francisco 129). The disease is usually diagnosed at a young age, but it can manifest as early as childhood or in middle age. Symptoms of schizophrenia include psychotic hallucinations and delusions, incoherent speech and disordered behavior, and an absence or distortion of emotions. It is generally described as a split personality illness that affects a person’s thinking, emotions, and behavior to such an extent that sufferers experience difficulties in many vital areas of daily activities (Francisco 129). Schizophrenia is the most common of the mental disorders involving psychotic symptoms. Montresor’s actions are typical of a mentally ill patient, which does not excuse, but can be the explanation of the protagonist’s actions. It leads every reader to consider that only a mentally disturbed person would commit such a crime. Even the most terrible event could hardly have forced a healthy man to kill his comrade while choosing a horrific way to execute the murder. Nevertheless, it is evident that the cause of the strife and all the followed events are incredibly severe. Edgar Allen Poe has determined that there is no necessity to explain precisely what grave issue happened between the major characters that made Montresor crave revenge (Poe 22). The conflict between Fortunato and Montresor is the central theme of The Cask of Amontillado.

The cask of amontillado story