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On BSD’s Poe and The Cask of Amontillado — methodical violence

For all that Poe is characterized as soft (and rightfully so) I’ve always thought it was curious how easily he is given to violence, especially as it relates to Ranpo.

For the below analysis of Poe, I will be comparing Poe to the narrator of the Cask of Amontillado, Ranpo to Fortunado, and Poe’s novel to specific part of the catacombs where Fortunado was walled in.

1. The Motive

Poe spent 6 years plotting the murder of a man who beat him in a detective competition, which I’m fairly certain is a reference to the narrator in Cask of Amontillado (abbreviated hence as Cask)

when [Fortunado] ventured upon insult I vowed revenge

Fortunado is the man the narrator kills, and for a similar reason to which Poe wanted to kill Ranpo (humiliation). In fact, this entire first paragraph delves into reasoning that Poe follows in his revenge against Ranpo. Notably:

[A wrong] is equally unredressed when the avenger fails to make himself felt as such to him who has done the wrong.

And Poe makes it very clear to Ranpo that he felt humiliated by Ranpo, and what he felt humiliated by. He tries to make himself felt to Ranpo, and we see this with how he tries to remind the detective of their history.

2. The Identity and Treatment of the Victim

Both Ranpo and Fortunado are:

1. Better than and are arrogant about a skill which the narrator also takes pride in. Ranpo is astonishingly brilliant (moreso than Poe) while Fortunado is someone who “prided himself on his connoisseurship in wine” and the narrow is also “skilful in the Italian vintage”. Ranpo also repeatedly brags about his intelligence/super-deduction and calls other people stupid, just like Fortunado insists that he is the better expert on wine than the other people the narrator brings up, and calls one of them “an ignoramus”.

2. Killed (or attempted to be killed) by in a test of the aforementioned, shared skill. Ranpo is lured into a mystery novel while Fortunado is lured into a cellar to taste wine.

3. People who will be missed, “unlike” the killer. Ranpo is the agency’s pillar while Poe works for the guild which is all “money and violence”. Poe even remarks that he envied Ranpo’s praise, and that he himself cannot stomach the world much. Fortunado was said by the narrator to be “rich, respected, admired, beloved; you are happy, as once I was. You are a man to be missed”.

4. “Lucky” people. Poe viewed Ranpo as lucky for being the holder of glory and praise and for being blessed with the super deduction ability, unlike the “disgraced” Poe. Fortunado’s name literally means fortunate.

5. Locked in a place to die where others have already died. As the novel’s murderer, Ranpo likely would’ve been one of if not the last person to die, and when he did he’d have died among corpses, much like Fortunado died in the catacombs.

6. Meant to be slowly killed. Since again, Ranpo(‘s character) would’ve probably outlasted everyone else it’s likely that it would’ve taken a while for him to die, while Fortunado is literally walled into the cellar and presumably died of dehydration/starvation/suffocation/etc. It’s also possible that has Ranpo not figured out the killer, he would’ve died of the same cause (since, who knows if there was food in that novel).

3. Method of Madness — fair and escapable, up to a point

To me, the above similarities that Poe is like the narrator as well. This in mind, and considering canon actions, I do think that Poe is intensely and easily given to violence when moved to be. However, I also think this happens only in regard to Ranpo.

However, I also think he is principled and intentional about this violence. He gives Ranpo a fair chance. He has all the Guild’s resources at his disposal and probably could’ve done more to kill the man of all he wanted to do was kill, but no—he wanted to beat Ranpo at his own game. He wanted to redress the insult he suffered as the narrator of Cask did when he lured Fortunado into a game.

The narrator of Cask of Amontillado invited (did not force, only perhaps poke the ego of) Fortunado gave Fortunado plenty of chances to leave, even offered multiple times to take him back out when he began to cough / show ill health (though depending on interpretation, these may have been done to goad Fortunado into continuing). Similarly, Poe gave Ranpo a challenge (which he willingly took) and every chance to back out before he entered the book.

However, as Fortunado’s desire to prove his skill in wine tasting led him to be walled into the catacombs, Ranpo’s desire for the Guild info led him into the book. From there, both of their situations were escapable (or at least they were meant to be).

Also, if you’re wondering why I think the novel is specifically the part of the catacombs that Fortunado was walled into (and not the trip down to the catacombs itself), just look at this image:

Bricked in, much like Fortunado.

All of this leads me to believe that to Poe, revenge was not about the ends, but the method. The ends had no meaning of the method did not address his revenge appropriately. Poe himself suggests this as well when he mentions that the Guild’s violence bores him. The Guild’s violence is just violence, but Poe’s violence towards Ranpo is methodical, intentional, meaningful, and cruel. This leads me into…

4. Blasé Regard of Violence

Take this scene from the Cask:

“Enough,” he said; “the cough is a mere nothing; it will not kill me. I shall not die of a cough.”

“True — true,

And this scene from chapter 32:

It’s a bit subtle, but both killers reference that their victim is going to die. The narrator in Cask says “true” because indeed Fortunado would not die of a cough, but of whatever killed him in the catacombs. And in Poe’s eyes (since he believed he would successfully kill Ranpo), Ranpo would “practically die to secure that info”.

Neither of them feel guilt, or even give a thought about feeling guilt, for what they’re doing.

I also want to note that I don’t think either the narrator in Cask nor Poe necessarily enjoy the inflicting of violence. They just… do it. The violence is not blood or pain to relish in, but the vector of their revenge. When Yosano “dies” in the novel and Ranpo is anguished, Poe does not shout about delighting in Ranpo’s misery, but rather is just glad to have beaten him.

The violence is part of these two killers’ method, and the method does matter to them (more than the outcome, even), but the violence is not the part of the method that matters. It is an avenue through which the method is delivered.

As a closing note, I also leave with you the observation that we only get the name of the narrator of The Cask of Amontillado, Montresor, at the very end of the story (when Fortunado has been almost completely walled in), just as Ranpo only claims to remember Poe after he’s gotten out of the novel.

My personal thoughts on Poe’s relationship to Ranpo (IE, not analysis of Poe and Cask) will be below the cut.

—

Personal RanPoe Thoughts

Poe is a little insane.

I really do like thinking about his desire to take violent revenge on Ranpo without actually caring about the violence part is a super cool thing to explore.

I also, again, think that this disposition to violence is Ranpo-specific; that Poe would not be as violent towards anyone other than Ranpo or unless Ranpo was involved. Ranpo and all his arrogance and brilliance. Ranpo as the loved, praised man he is.

I also do not think Poe wants to hurt Ranpo anymore, just for the record (and again I don’t think it was ever about causing harm, just satisfying his own vengeance), neither do I view him as possessive (I mean, we see him happily cheering for Ranpo’s intellectual prowess being recognized during the Perfect Crime arc).

What I do think is that Poe is willing to do just about anything for Ranpo, and to extremes. We see that he easily bets on Guild secrets away—screwing over the group that pays him an unholy amount of money—in order to have Ranpo’s attention and that he’ll write entire books on Ranpo’s whims (I haven’t counted the number of books Ranpo’s used throughout the manga but it’s not a small number of entire novels written in what I assume was less than a year). And while we haven’t seen Poe be violent again, I do think it’s possible.

This is all to say, if you wanna know where my brain has been today, it’s been thinking up scenes like this:

It was plain to see that Ranpo was made to be loved. His voice was loud, his grins were broad, and no better was there ever a moment to celebrate than when he snatched up his glasses and declared,

“Now, my super-deduction will reveal the truth behind this case!”

To deny Ranpo the right to be loved by the public was to deny who Ranpo was. Poe would have nothing else but the whole of him locked at the forefront of his mind.

I think this interpretation is also neat to think about in regards to the recent arc, but I didn’t have the brain space to write something like that today.

I have more RanPoe thoughts, but those will have to wait until a later post (as this is meant to specifically be focused on Poe, The Cask of Amontillado, and violence). Soon, soon.

To be explored in the future… Ranpo’s and Poe’s relationships to feelings of alienation.

nonono jajsjajajajjajaj

i am the real life batman don't tell anyone (says a short stubby child with a rainbow propellor hat and a comically large lollypop)

*stares menacingly, then says, it a somewhat condescending tone:*

"bazinga..."

*starts breathing heavily like in horror movies*

Uhm... can I help you?

Someone had to do it 😁😁😁

hello hi hi hello hi hi hi hello hello hi hello hi hi

*holds up a wilted daisy with a comically large hand*

for you yay yay yay yay yay yay

*stares menacingly, then says, it a somewhat condescending tone:*

"bazinga..."

*starts breathing heavily like in horror movies*

Uhm... can I help you?

some old fyodor drawings

(from oldest to newest)

i had more but for some reason i can't find my first sketchbook so you guys have to wait (for months, probably)

uhh the first two look weird af but i couldn't find any more .p

anw HAPPY BIRTHDAY FYODOR 💗❤️💘💝💖💓💞💕❤️‍🔥🫶🏻🫶🏻🐀🐀🐀

OMG OMG FYIDOR DAY

pretty sure I missed fyodor's birthday but HAPPPY CLAPPY BDAY MY SON

Hi 👋, My name is Mohammad, and I’m reaching out in a moment of desperate need. I’m a father of three young children living in Gaza, and we are caught in the midst of a catastrophic war. Our home is no longer a safe haven, and the future here seems increasingly uncertain. 💔

I’ve launched a fundraising campaign with the goal of raising $40,000 to relocate my family to a safer place where my children can grow up in peace and have a chance at a brighter future.

Unfortunately, my previous fundraising efforts were abruptly halted when my account was terminated without explanation. However, I remain determined to keep fighting for my family’s safety and well-being. 🫶

If you could take a moment to read our story, consider donating, or simply share our campaign with others, it would make an incredible difference. Every act of kindness, no matter how small, brings us one step closer to safety and a new beginning. 🙏

Thank you for your time, compassion, and support. ❤️‍🩹

https://gofund.me/fd1faea2 🔗

look at this gang

gahhh tysm 😭 @fyodorsushankaaa + others (I can't name all of yall)

here’s your daily reminder that

you aren’t worthless

you’re worth more than you think you are

you mean a lot to someone

you’ve done something to make someone laugh or smile

you’ve laughed and smiled

you’re good enough

you deserve to be happy

you’re allowed to be sad

you’re you and nothing can change that

and there’s no one else you need to be

gleeble glorp 💔

i love twinks 🎀🎀

According to my brother, this 18 years old and this 19 YEAR OLD SOMEHOW LOOKS LIKE TACHIHARA AND FUCKING HIROTSU FROM BSD??

HOW DOES A TEENAGER END UP LOOKING LIKE A CRUSY 50 YEAR OLD WHO HAS PASSED HIS EXPIRY DATE LIKE 20 YEARS AGO??? OKAY DUDE

Hm.

BSD FANS STAY

gang, I'm stuck. I DESPERATELY need bsd high school fic recommendations!!!!! before I get a million sukokou replies, it can involve that ship, but I'd like if it had other ships too, like ranpoe, fyolai, ranpoe, mushimizou (rare), ranpoe, atsulucy, ranpoe, mar..thorne..? (whatever Margaret x hawthorne is), ranpoe, etc. GUYS PLEASE ANSWER!

Hello🌹,

I hope you are well

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I hope just to help me to start my education

I was in my first year at university in Gaza but after the war, I lost everything my dream and my education 💔

Hope you really can help with anything

Thank you in advance🌹🌹

My campaign has been verified by @gaza-evacuation-funds 🚨

https://gofund.me/7417ca2b

https://gofund.me/0974b65e

!!!!!!!!

Bored, so anyone who reblogs this will (eventually) get some fun in their ask box

As in

Raccoon memes.

🦭

I see no difference here

Nice and fresh🧊☀️

young ranpoe art!!

isn't ranpo just so silly

I took a look at ur silly lil posts and and now I’m follow you now because BSD AND VOCALOIDISJCIENcINECINECIENCOEMCONEICBEIVHBEDJKCBJEKRCBKJWDCN ✨✨✨✨✨✨

ilysm bro /p

ahhh thank you sm 💞

los perros malo

los perros malo

hello 🅈🄾🅄 🄳🄾🄽'🅃 🅆🄰🄽🅃 🅃🄾 🅂🄴🄴 🄼🅈 🄳🄰🅁🄺 🅂🄸🄳🄴

-☆ (ur so silly :333)

BAHAH thank you

Halloween 2024 at Night

FYOLAI IN MY STYLE o(^o^)o

made 'em androgynous 👍

scene miku drawing from 5 months ago

can you tell I didn't have an art style 🫃

SUPER COOL INTRODUCTION

real name: astrid (BOOORING)

preferred nickname(s): asie, willofthewood, astro-turf, 🅈🄾🅄 🄳🄾🄽'🅃 🅆🄰🄽🅃 🅃🄾 🅂🄴🄴 🄼🅈 🄳🄰🅁🄺 🅂🄸🄳🄴, alpha

nationality: ENGLAND 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 🍻

pronouns: she/her but I do not care tbh 🥶

music taste: WILL WOOD, TALLY HALL, LEMON DEMON, THAT HANDSOME DEVIL, roar, TV girl, WILL WOOD, Tyler the creator, WILL WOOD, Freddie dredd, more.

clothing: anything that society call me emo for wearing (so basically anything alt) (emos are FIRE 🔥 🔥 💯)

age: classified (under 18, be nice)

mbti: infp 🔥 (same as my glorious twink poe)

posting times: chaotic, sometimes 10 times daily, other times I disappear for a few months

fandoms: bungo stray dogs, sk8, yuri on ice, kuroshitsuji, sonic, Sally face, garfield but specifically the 1990s animation/comic series, danganronpa thh (IM NOT WEIRD ABT IT I SWEAR), smiling friends, vocaloid/utau etc, will wood (is that a fandom??), that guy who pushes balloons with faces down steps on tiktok

favourite colour (its a mandatory question): deep red/any red that isn't pastel because pastel red SUCKS ♥

ofc I can draw things that aren't in my fandoms, but STRICTLY NO NSFW 😾

so uh

follow me if u like any of that stuff, I will stalk ur account if u do (bribery)

this is how you will feel if you follow:

woah thumb reveal 🤯🤯🤯

bye bye gang (FOLLOWMEFOLOWNEUXPZ)

CHALLANGE

i have no idea what I want to draw. SO, I want you guys to send me a picture of your oc(s) or a character you like from ant show and I'll choose one at random to draw and post! submit the pictures in the section called 'silly little questions' on my profile. bsd characters are encouraged, but not mandatory!

gotta thank Beyoncé 💞

please don't pick ranposano, I hate this ship but yk. WE GANG 💜

gotta thank Beyoncé 💞

kitty knows nothing, only meow meow

Kenji and his cow Hanako II were the best duo from wan change my mind