Question

What is the purpose of the author’s description of Fortunato’s clothing in “The Cask of Amontillado”?

Answer 1

Poe dresses Fortunato as a fool because he followed Montressor into the catacombs in hopes of sampling a rare bottle of wine which are the actions of a fool. In the end he allows Montressor to manipulate him and kill him without realizing the real intentions of his "friend" until it is done.

Answer 2

In the short story "The Cask of Amontillado" by Edgar Allan Poe, the author describes Fortunato's clothes as a traditional jester costume, "The man wore motley. He had on a tight-fitting parti-striped dress and his head was surmounted by the conical cap and bells". The author describes Fortunato's jester costume because it symbolizes his foolishness.