The Mortal Sin of Pride In “The Cask of the Amontillado” Edgar Allan Poe uses symbolism, imagery, and the atmosphere to help fully explore the sinful nature of pride and its serious consequences within the short story. The character of Fortunato is the main capsule for the explanation of the dangers of being prideful of ones self. By examining Poe’s use of symbolism, images, and effective backdrops around Fortunato the reader may begin to understand the importance of the deadly sin of pride. Poe deliberately explains to the reader early on within the short story, “The Cask of the Amontillado”, that Fortunato takes extreme pride