We see a lot of verbal irony throughout the story that shows Montresor's motivations and also adds a touch of dark humor to this gothic tale. Fortunato retorts: “the cough is nothing; It won't kill me. I won't die of coughing. »(Poe 228). Montresor responds by agreeing with him, the audience and Montresor both know the fate that awaits Fortunato. These ironic statements that Montresor makes in the story show readers his dark motivations even if Fortunato is unaware of it. The character's name is also very ironic in the story. The name Fortunato is similar to lucky, which would lead us to believe that he is lucky or has lived a good life. In this case, the opposite is true and Fortunato is subjected to death in a very unhappy state.