Acid rain

Acid rain An introduction to the Acid rain Acid rain is a major problem for our health and even our existence. Human started poisoning the atmosphere with acid gases since 1730, at the height of the Industrial Revolution. Although, it was first recognized in 1872, approximately one hundred years after the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, when an English scientist, Robert Angus Smith (1817-1884), pointed out the problem. In 1962, the Swedish scientist Svante Oden brought the acid rain quandary to the attention of the press, instead of the less popular scientific journals. He compiled records from the 1950s indicating that acid rain came from air masses moving out of central and western Europe into Scandinavia. In 1984 it was reported that almost half of the trees in the famous black forest in Germany had been damaged by acid rain. In 1988 United nations agreed to reduce the emissions of these acids into the atmosphere. In 1990 changes to the Clean Air Act set rules to cut down the release of sulfur dioxide from power pl ants down to 10 million tonnes by January 1, 2000 The Meaning and Creation of Acid Rain Acid rain is a term that describes the fall of the quantity of acids, staying in the atmosphere. We can use the term â€Å"Acid deposition to be more specific. Acid deposition separates in two parts: wet and dry. Wet deposition refers to the acidic rain, fog, and snow. As the high-acidized water flows over and through the ground, affects badly most of the earths flora and fauna. The danger of this effect depends on many factors like the acidity of water, the capacity of the soil and the types of flora and fauna that depend on water. Dry deposition refers to the acidic gases and their particles. It is known, that most of these acidic gases falls from the atmosphere to the earth through this procession (dry deposition). After that, the wind blows these dangerous particles on trees, cars, buildings etc. Trees are also infected due to the rainstorms, because they absorb the water from the storm. When this fact happens the high-acidized water adds these acids to the acid rain, which makes it more acidic than the rain that already falls. Prevailing winds blow these chemical compounds, which cause both wet and dry deposition, across the lands (hundreds of miles). The most important and harmful compounds are sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) which are created mostly from electric power generation made through the burning of fossil fuels like coal. The acidity of acid rain is made through the following reactions of sulfur and nitrogen oxides with the oxygen from the atmosphere and the water from the rains S + O 2 → SO 2 SO 2 + O 3 → SO 3 + O 2 SO 3 + H 2 O → H 2 SO 4 SO 2 + H 2 O → H 2 SO 3 2NO 2 + H 2 O → 2HNO 3 + NO2 NO + O 2 → 2NO2 Natural effects Nature also harms herself. Acid gases, produced by emissions from fires, volcanic eruptions, bacterial decomposition and lightening, are released in the atmosphere, increasing the amounts of nitrogen oxide. The major biological source of sulfur containing compounds is Dimethyl sulfide. Gas Phase chemistry Sulfur Sulfur dioxide reacts with the hydroxyl radical. Then the product reacts with the oxygen from the atmosphere and creates sulphur trioxide. Sulfur trioxide, when water is present, reacts and produces sulphuric acid. (See reaction table No1) Now, sulphur dioxide, like carbon dioxide, reacts with water, when clouds are present, through the procession of Hydrolysis. It dissolves in water in a series of equilibrium reactions (See reaction table No2) SO2 + OH · → HOSO2 HOSO2 · + O2 → HO2 · + SO3 SO3 (g) + H2O (l) → H2SO4 (l) NO2 + OH · → HNO3 SO2 (g) + H2O SO2 ·H2O SO2 ·H2O H+ + HSO3− HSO3− H+ + SO32− Nitrogen Oxide Nitrogen oxide reacts with OH to form nitric acid NO2 + OH · → HNO3 Oxidation There is a large amount of reactions where sulfur is oxidized from S(IV) to S(VI) that leads to the formation of sulphuric acid. The most important oxidation reactions are with ozone, hydrogen peroxide and oxygen (reactions with oxygen are catalyzed by iron and manganese in the cloud droplets). Measure and effects To measure the acidity of acid rain, we use the pH scale. Pure water has a pH of 7.0. Normal rain has a pH of 5.5 due to the dissolve of carbon oxide into it. The most acidic rain was fell in USA in the year 2000. It had a ph of 4.3 This acidity affects every living thing on the planet. The following tasks explain exactly this affection: 1st Effect: On Plant life Roots of flowers and trees are destroyed, such as nutricients, which are very important for their lives. Useful microorganisms, which release nutrients from decaying organic material, are killed. Acid rain also damages the waxy layer of the plants, which makes the plant vulnerable to diseases. Plants that survive are weak and without the ability to survive through tough conditions such as a short dry period, a heavy rainfall or a strong wind. The reproduction is also affected. 2nd Effect: On soil The decrease of pH damages or kills some microbes, which produce important enzymes. These enzymes, after the damage of microbes, change shape and lose the ability to function. Also cation exchange creates a serious problem. The ions of some metals (magnesium, potassium, and other metals) are attached to the clay and humus particles in the soil. The attractive forces of positive metal ions to the negatively charged clay particles are strong enough to hold the metal ions in the soil despite the passage of water through the soil. Hydronium ions from acid rain mobilize toxins like aluminium and leach away nutrients like magnesium. 3rd Effect: On animals, humans, and aquatic life Humans depend on food (animals, fishes). Fishes on the lakes and the seas are poisoned or infected by aluminium and mercury, that is leached from soil and rocks. Soil and water have the ability to neutralize the acidity of the rain water. But as the acidity becomes stronger, the pH goes lower. pH 5.5- Plankton population begins to die pH 5.0 Fish population begins to die pH lower than 5.0- All the fishes have died This effect is called ‘Acid Shock† and prevents also the reproduction of the population. Animals, like all the living organisms, interdependent on each other. The habitants that depend on plants and fishes begin to extinct. Other animals that depend on the animals, who depend on fishes and plants, begin to extinct. The food chain is affected dangerously. 4th Effect: Corrosion of buildings and sculptures. The sulfur dioxide reacts with limestone and marble. This reaction creates a black crust on buildings and sculptures, composed by gypsum. Gypsum is composed by the reactance of calcite, water and sulfuric acid. It may be white, but in the crystals of the network of its composition, dirt and pollutant are trapped, so it looks black CaCO3 (s) + H2SO4 (aq) CaSO4 (aq) + CO2 (g) + H2O Acid rain also increases the oxidation rate of metals, especially copper and bronze One good result Researches have resulted that Acid rain restricts global warming by reducing methane emissions from wetland areas. This study also showed that sulfur in the acid deposition limits global warming by counteracting the natural production of methane gases by microbes in wetland areas. Heating these microbes increases the speed of producing more methane, which is mitigating by the sulphur pollution from the industries. This fact is happening because of the sulphur-eating bacteria, which are living in wetlands, and compete the methane-eating microbes. Experiments have shown, that releasing the sulphur deposits causes decrease of methane by 30%, due to the activation of sulphur-eating bacteria Acid rain: Problems and solutions An important solution is the remove of sulphur from the stack gases, made from coal-burning power plants of the industries. This will be able to be done with the use of FGD (flue gas desulfurization). This plan is commonly uses in the U.S.A and many other countries. An example of FGD is the wet scrambler. Wet scrambler is a reaction tower equipped with a fan that extracts hot smoke stack gases from a power plant into the tower. Lime or limestone in slurry form is also injected into the tower to mix with the stack gases and combine with the sulfur dioxide present. The calcium carbonate of the limestone produces pH-neutral calcium sulfate that is physically removed from the scrubber. That is, the scrubber turns sulfur pollution into industrial sulfates. In some areas, where he purity of calcium sulphate is high, the sulfates are sold to chemical companies as a gypsum. In other areas they are placed in landfill. However, the effets of acid rain can last for generations, due to the change of the pH level. Chemicals continue leaching in water, killing off all the living organisms and blocking the restore of life. Another solution refers to the trading of emissions. Industries can then install pollution control equipment, and sell portions of their emissions allowances they no longer need for their own operations. This plan saves the economy and decreases the capital cost for these equipments. The intention is to give operators economic incentives to install pollution controls. Prevention Step 1 · Reduce emissions from mining, smelting and generating electrical power. Consumers can help by using fewer mined resources and reducing electrical power usage, as well as campaigning for government regulation of emissions in their area. Step 2 · Reduce emissions produced by oil operations and oil-fueled transportation. Consumers can help reduce emissions produced by oil operations by buying less oil, buying from companies with higher emissions regulations and driving cars with lower emission rates. Step 3 · Reduce the amount of carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides produced by reducing use of coal and wood burning as well as natural gas. Step 4 · Cut back on your use of products that produce chlorofluorocarbons, or CFCs. Air conditioning, refrigeration and many aerosol products use or contain CFCs. Reduce the use of air conditioning by using fans and use a single, energy efficient refrigerator per household. Conserve cooled air by not leaving doors open when the air conditioning is on and by not leaving the refrigerator open for extended periods of time. Step 5 · Reduce production of sulfur dioxide by conserving paper. Sulfur dioxide is produced in paper production, so read newspapers online rather than buying a newspaper everyday, use the front and back of paper and use recycled paper. Step 6 · Reduce the emissions produced by your car by car pooling, planning ahead to combine long trips, biking or walking for short trips and keeping your car well maintained to be sure nothing is leaking. Step 7 · Increase energy efficiency in your home by using fluorescent lights, turning lights off when not in use, shutting down utilities when youre on vacation, closing off vents to rooms that are not in use and operating large appliances like dishwashers, washers and driers only when full. Step 8 · Reduce your use of manufactured materials such as packaging and other disposable products and recycle as much as you can. Producing new materials and disposing of waste materials are responsible for a large number of the pollutants that cause acid rain.

Julius Caesar Questionnaire

Act I 1. What do the final 4 lines of scene I suggest about the status of the people under Caesar’s rule? 2. â€Å"Foreshadowing† is the technique of preparing a reader or audience for something to happen later in the narrative. â€Å"Beware the Ides of March† is an example of such a technique. Can you guess what event may be foreshadowed by the Soothsayer’s warnings in scene II? (I, 21) 3. Much of scene II is given over to Cassius’s speeches to Brutus, trying to persuade him that he should rule rather than Caesar. Given this fact, what was the purpose of scene I? 4. Does Brutus tell Cassius why he has been feeling â€Å"passions of some difference† of late? (II, 45) Could they relate to his feelings for Caesar as ruler? 5. Cassius tells Brutus that â€Å"many† wished Brutus saw himself the way they do. Why is it important that he tells Brutus that such people are â€Å"groaning underneath this age’s yoke†? (II, 66) What does that mean? 6. What does Cassius mean when he describes his role for Brutus as â€Å"your glass†? (II, 73) 7. What do you think Brutus means when he tells his friend that his advice will only be important â€Å"if it be aught toward the general good†? II, 91) 8. How does â€Å"lov[ing] honor more than than [fearing] death† (II, 95) relate to Brutus’s becoming king? 9. Why does Brutus tell Cassius the story about Caesar and himself, swimming the Tiber River and fearing for their lives? 10. Summarize the meaning and intent of Cassius’s speech to Brutus in lines II, 144-167. 11. What is Caesar’s attitude toward Cassius (II, 205-219)? 12. After what you have heard about Caesar during his rule, do you believe he was genuine in his desire to refuse the crown of king, or not? (II, 269 ff. ) Why? 13. Give evidence from scene II to explain why Cassius is plotting to overthrow Caesar. 14. â€Å"So every bondman in his own hand bears the power to cancel his captivity. † Explain Casca’s statement in the context of the Romans’ growing fears of Caesar’s â€Å"monstrosity†. (III, 106-107) 15. To what does Cassius ascribe Caesar’s feeling that his powers be exercised? (III, 110-111) 16. What â€Å"enterprise† is Cassius referring to in lines III, 129-136? 17. Casca and Cassius hope Brutus will change once he is in power. How do they describe this change? (III, 161-167). Act II 1. Summarize, in a sentence or two, Brutus’s speech on pp. 21-22. Also—has Brutus decided to ally himself with Cassius and try to topple Caesar? 2. Do you think Brutus and Cassius have sufficient grounds to topple Caesar, even though much of their apprehension seems to be based on premonitions rather than Caesar’s bad deeds? Why? 3. What are Brutus’s deepest feelings about his plan to murder Caesar? (pp. 23-24) 4. â€Å"Oh, that we then could come by (influence) Caesar’s spirit/And not dismember Caesar! But, alas,/Caesar must bleed for it! Brutus still has reservations about the murder. Why, then, must Caesar still â€Å"bleed for† his abuse—or potential abuse–of power? (I, 178-180) 5. Why do you think Caesar has grown â€Å"superstitious of late†? (I, 208) 6. Do you think Brutus is lying to his wife, Portia, when he tells her he is â€Å"not well in health†? (I, 272) 7. Calpurnia tells her husband, Caesar, â€Å"When beggars die, there are no comets seen; the heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes. † Explain in reference to Caesar’s rule of Rome. (II, 31-32) 8. Caesar says, â€Å"Cowards die many times before their deaths; the valiant taste of death but once. † Explain. (II, 33-34) [Note: This line is one of Shakespeare’s most famous. ] 9. Why is it significant that Caesar tells one of his murderers, Decius, â€Å"I love you†? (II, 78) [Note the play on Decius’s name: To die is to become â€Å"deceased†. ] 10. Do you think the conspirators are motivated by â€Å"emulation† (envy) as Artemidorus says they are? Why or why not? (III, 14) 11. To whom does the Soothsayer owe allegiance? Why, do you think? (III, 32) Act III 1. â€Å"Et tu (you, too? ), Brute? Then fall, Caesar! † says Caesar, dying. What do his dying words say about Caesar’s regard for Brutus’s opinion? Might he have meant anything else by the question, do you think? (scene I, line 84) 2. â€Å"Ambition’s debt is paid. † Explain the meaning of this statement, uttered by Brutus on Caesar’s demise. (I, 90) 3. Lines III, 121-123 proved prescient less than 150 years after Shakespeare’s death with the mutiny of the British during the English Revolution against their king, Charles I, and his murder on January 30, 1649. To what other historical events does Caesar’s murder relate? . Summarize Antony’s sentiments toward Caesar after the murder is committed? (Consult both III, 217-224 and III, 275-296 for this question. ) 5. Why does Antony befriend Brutus, Cassius, and the other conspirators? (III, 235) 6. When is â€Å"death† a suitable punishment for â€Å"ambition†? (III, 29) 7. â€Å"I have done no mo re to Caesar than you shall do to Brutus,† says Brutus in his funeral speech. Explain in reference to question 1, above. (III, 36-37) Does Brutus expect to be murdered, too? (III, 45-47) 8. â€Å"And Brutus is an honorable man,† is the refrain of Mark Antony’s famous eulogy f Caesar on page 56. Given his expressed love for the fallen leader, this refrain conveys Antony’s anger at the murderers through irony—saying one thing but meaning something quite the opposite. But Antony admits, credibly, that he â€Å"does not know† the whole story of Caesar’s so-called â€Å"ambition† and thus leaves himself—and Brutus and the conspirators—the option to celebrate the murderous act once he knows more. Practice saying this complex oration aloud and try to provide this refrain with an inflection that conveys Antony’s hostility. . Perceiving that he has raised the ire of the crowd to bloodthirstyness, Antony’s sarcasm turns mellow; when, at III, 225, he reiterates that the conspirators â€Å"are wise and honorable†, he seems to mean it and urges the people to listen carefully to the reasons given by t he conspirators for the murder. What was Antony’s true purpose in the eulogy? Did he achieve it or not, given the fact that the crowd does, in fact, go off to kill Brutus? Act IV 1. What is the thematic significance of Portia’s death? That is, why do you think the playwright thought it just that the lead conspirator and usurper, Brutus, should lose his wife as a result of his having participated in the conspiracy? (II, III) 2. â€Å"There is a tide in the affairs of men which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune; omitted, all the voyage of their life is bound in shallows and miseries. † [This is another of Shakespeare’s most famous lines. ] Explain the meaning and significance of this statement to the war between the legions of Antony and Brutus by referring to III, 250-252. . Summarize, in a sentence or two, Act IV’s importance to the play. Act V 1. â€Å"O Julius Caesar! Thou art mighty yet. Thy spirit walks abroad and turns our swords in our own proper entrails. † What truth about wars might this speech by Brutus be said to acknowledge? (III, 101-102) 2. What event does this speech (â€Å"O Julius Caesar †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ) presage? (V, 57) 3. Mark Antony’s speech establishes , once and for all, that Brutus’s intentions were honorable, and his sincerity in working for the ultimate good of the Roman people genuine. What, then, does Octavius mean when he suggests that the victorious forces of Antony â€Å"use† his memory by staging a â€Å"respectful† burial? What significance might such a funeral have for the Roman state? (V, 82-83) 4. Now that you have read the play in its entirety, decide for yourself whether or not Shakespeare believed that the murder of Caesar was in the best interests of the Roman people? To answer this question, reflect upon the facts of the play: who lives? (were their acts just? ), who dies? (were their acts unjust? , and how do the speeches associated with their deaths shed light on the way â€Å"God† (in the case of a fictitious story, the playwright himself) would judge them and their actions? 5. Since Brutus himself is said to have been â€Å"the noblest Roman of all† (V, 74), why do you think Shakespeare kills him off before the play’s conclusion? That is, is Shakespeare conveying any message, moral or practical, by killing him of f? [Remember: The reader must assume that nothing in such a play is included by accident. ]

Appendix H - 1405 Words

Appendix H Student Name ETH/125 Due Date Instructor’s Name Site Image Thoughts National Organization for Women This site is dedicated to the women’s rights movement, covering such issues as ending sex discrimination, stopping violence against women, promoting diversity, and ending racism. I was very pleased to find this movement covers such a wide variety of issues we face in today’s society. American Civil Liberties Union This site is dedicated to an America free of discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. This means an America where GLBT people can live openly, where their identities, relationships and families are respected, and where there is fair treatment on the job, in schools, housing, public†¦show more content†¦Masculinity has changed very little over time. By definition, to be masculine is to be tough, having little or no emotion, and having great physical strength and endurance. Men are thought to be natural leaders and should accept the role of dominating the household (both his wife and children. â€Å"Inequality between women and men is a worldwide social phenomenon†. (Schaefer, R., 2012. p354) †¢ Historically, what has been the social status of GLBT people? First of all, I find it difficult to group each of these cultures into one, since their movements were all separate and different until the recent merging of the groups in the last decade. For instance, gay culture during the 19th and early 20th century was highly covert and was still very much an underground lifestyle limited to the social elite. During this time gay men were deeply involved in performing arts such as ballet, opera, and musicals. Lesbian culture was first recognized when they began the feminist reform for women’s equal rights. Before the early 20th century there was not much social stigma related to GLBT people simply because this culture was an underground, secretive lifestyle that was hidden from the mainstream population. Then in the 1920’s, a police raid on a New York bar frequented by the gay community began a riot. Soon it was illegal to participate in homosexual behavior, even in the privacy of one’s own home. This is what is believed to begin the coming out of the GLBT community. Their rightsShow MoreRelatedAppendix H Monotheistic Religions739 Words   |  3 PagesAxia College Material Appendix H Monotheistic Religion Elements Matrix | Judaism | Christianity | Islam | Countries of origin | * Judaism started at Mount Sinai in Arabia according to history; however, Israel was to be the homeland of the Jews. | * Originated in eastern Mediterranean throughout the life of Jesus Christ, in addition to it becoming the major religion of the Roman Empire by the end of the 4th century | * Islam derived from Mecca before the prophet Muhammad journeyedRead MoreEssay about Psy/270 Appendix H901 Words   |  4 PagesAssignment: DSM – IV Evaluation School: University of Phoenix Course: PSY/270 Instructor: Lorry Bradley, M.A. By: Ronald Berry 1. Case Study 1 DSM – IV: Schizoid Personality Disorder A. Causes: When it comes to this disorder the exact cause is unknown, even though a combination of environmental and genetic factors especially in early childhoodRead MoreMarch 2003 and Market Niche Essay examples1467 Words   |  6 Pagesfor which the products are specially designed. (Appendix A) As the case demonstrates, the brand was once the leader of the low-proof alcohol market in the UK, so the brand should be specifically designed for the people who prefer the taste of the low-proof alcohol. It is one sign of the market niche. (Appendix B) Market niche is also a strategy adopted by the companies which compete with generic products and are concerned with cost reduction. (Appendix C) As the case mentioned, Distillers Delight hadRead MoreCase Study on a Patient with Appendicitis1328 Words   |  6 PagesCHIEF COMPLAINT Four days prior to admission because of cough and fever   The appendix is a closed-ended, narrow tube up to several inches inlength that attaches to the cecum the 1 st part of the colon like a worm. The anatomical name for the appendix, vermiform appendix, means worm like appendage. The inner lining of the appendix produces a small amount of  mucus that flows through the open center of the appendix and into the cecum.The wall of the appendicitis contains lymphatic tissue that isRead MoreLiterature Review : Complicated Appendicitis Essay1635 Words   |  7 Pagesreported to be very high . Perforation is defined as a hole in the appendix or a faecolith in the abdomen(4) while appendicular mass develops due to walled off perforation which causes a mass when it localizes(forsyth j) and furthers to adjacent viscera and greater omentum and forms a phlegmon (5).below are images of a perforation and a faecolith . A- Hole in the appendix B- Fecalith in abdomen Anatomy Vermiform of the appendix is approximately 5-10cm with its location at the right lower quadrantRead MoreBuild A Boat Challenge : A Lesson Plan From Two Different Theories1144 Words   |  5 Pages6th grade science students within the first week school, and is their first â€Å"real† science content for the school year. Starting in 2015 this will be used in all 20 Howard County Public Middle Schools as part of the PBIS science curriculum (see Appendix A for detailed HCPSS demographic information) (Kolodner, Krajcik, Edelson, Reiser, Starr, 2014). This lesson was piloted in all Lake Elkhorn Middle School (LEMS) 6th grade classes at the start of the 2014-15 school year, with good success. TheRead MoreTabulating System2445 Words   |  10 Pages | |Text |Arial, size 10, Regular | e. Pages - The page notation to be used is: - . Thus the first page for Chapter 2 is at 2-1, while the first page of Appendix A is at A-1. - There should be no page numbers for items before Chapter 1. f. Sub-headings and text All text and sub-headings should be in the following format as shown by an example below: 2.0 REVIEW OF RELATED STUDIESRead MoreCase Study : Tiffany And Co986 Words   |  4 Pagesbrand name (Appendix F). They have patently expanded their products offerings and even added more affordable items for those who wanted to experience and test out certain products before making a major purchase. They added new things such as Tiffany and Co.’s eyewear, key chains, handbags, and many other products. They wanted to prove that Tiffany and Co. is more than about just fine jewelry. Differentiation is a major strategy that Tiffany and Co. also wanted to implement (Appendix F). They wantedRead MoreA Corpus-Based, Comparative Study of Wage and Salary Essay1750 Words   |  7 Pages1322 tokens. This significantly contrasted with ‘salary’, as ‘annual’ (example 2, frequency 8696, T-score 92.999) and ‘monthly’ (5509, 73.991) were by far the most regular of the set. 1)Your real hourly wage (line 57-Appendix C) 2)Median (mid-point) annual salary (line 185-Appendix D) This may suggest that ‘wage’ is generally used for shorter periods of work, whereas ‘salary’ is mainly reserved for more extended services. It also partly acknowledges another difference, in that people receiving ‘wages’Read MoreMarks Spencers: the Downfall and Leadership Vacuum4650 Words   |  19 PagesSection III Ââ€" The Value ChainÂ…Demolished 8 Section IV Ââ€" Back to the Future 10 Appendices 12 Appendix A Ââ€" PESTLE Analysis 12 Appendix B Ââ€" Porters 5 Forces 13 Appendix C Ââ€" Value Chain 14 Appendix D Ââ€" Cost Drivers and Value Drivers 15 Appendix E Ââ€" Core Competences Ââ€" MS 16 Appendix F Ââ€" Critical Success Factors Competitor Position Profile Ââ€" MS vs. HM 16 Appendix G Ââ€" Ansoff Matrix 17 Appendix H Ââ€" Barriers to Change 17 References 18 Executive Summary MS as an organisation has faced

Youssef Abdelhameed. Dr. Glover. Enc-1102 (222042). 21

Youssef Abdelhameed Dr. Glover ENC-1102 (222042) 21 April 2017 Poe and American Victorianism Edgar Allan Poe was an American writer, editor, and literary critic. Poe is best known for his writings of poetry and short stories, particularly his tales of mystery. He is widely regarded as a famous figure of Romanticism in the United States and American literature, and he was one of the country s earliest practitioners of short stories. Edgar Allan Poe has witnessed a variety of disturbing situations in his life. For instance, he saw his two mothers and wife die of tuberculosis. Tuberculosis was a very serious disease at the time because there was no cure or vaccine. He has written about Tuberculosis many times in his stories without†¦show more content†¦Ultimately, The Cask of Amontillado is not humorous because the irony portrayed is very sad, dramatic, and tragic. Since the irony is as such, it is not funny, just suspenseful. The story was not funny because it involves death of its characters and that is not something to laugh about. Also, Montresor is vividly evil, a nd disturbed in his thought processes. Not all ironies are humorous. In â€Å"The Cask of Amontillado,† Montresor has his reasons for killing Fortunato. One is because he has insulted him in some way. We do not know how he insulted him, but whatever it is, it results in Montresor killing him. Montresor feels like he has to get his vengeance in one way or another. So he decides to get him drunk and entomb him alive. The insult most likely is something about Montresor s family. When Montresor is in the catacombs with Fortuanto, Fortunato takes several digs at Montresor s family. At one point he says, Oh, I forgot, the Montresors were once a great and noble family. In other words, Montresor s family is not as noble as it was at one point. Then, Fortunato makes the sign of the masons, an exclusive club of prominent men of the time. Then he says, Oh, you are not of the masons?—an obvious dig a Montresor s prestige. Montresor quickly pulls out a trowel, a tool of the common mason, or bricklayer, and says, sarcastically, Yes. Yes, I am a mason. Of course, this is a reference to Montresor s plan to bury Fortunato alive. Connor