Thou Art the Man is a short story by Edgar Allan Poe, first published in 1844. It tells the story of a man named Montresor who is wronged by a fellow nobleman, Fortunato. In revenge, Montresor lures Fortunato into a crypt beneath his home and seals him in, leaving him to die. The story begins with Montresor recounting the wrongs that Fortunato has done to him. He explains that he has been insulted and wronged by Fortunato, and that he has been seeking revenge for some time. He then devises a plan to lure Fortunato into the crypt beneath his home, where he will be sealed in and left to die. Montresor then sets his plan in motion, and lures Fortunato into the crypt. Once inside, Fortunato realizes the danger he is in and begs for mercy, but Montresor is unmoved. He seals Fortunato in the crypt and leaves him to die. The story ends with Montresor reflecting on his revenge and feeling satisfied that justice has been served. He also reflects on the irony of his own death, as he will eventually be sealed in the same crypt as Fortunato.
By Edgar Allan Poe · First published 1849 · Genre: Mystery, Gothic Fiction, Romance