In the wise words of Abraham Lincoln, “The dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate to the stormy present. The occasion is full of difficulties and we must rise to the occasion. Since our case is new, we must think new and act new.” It is important for our well-being to not let our past get in the way of today or tomorrow. This concept is a central theme for both the main character of Tim O'Brien's “The Things They Carried” and the narrator of Edgar Allan Poe's “The Cask of Amontillado.” Although the two stories are inherently different and distant in distant eras, they share common ground and the timeless moral of moving forward. In both stories, events occur to instigate a forced separation of the past from the present; both protagonists must let go of their past to face the present. Each character has their own personal motivations and demons to face. In “The Cask of Amontillado,” a major change in social status and life renders Montressor's other internal identity, represented as Fortunato, useless. The character of Fortunato is constantly reminded of Montressor's personal loss of power, wealth, and the end of his noble ancestral lineage. It is also a reminder of how cruel Fate and Fortune were in letting these things happen to his family, his world, and consequently to him. Montressor is consumed by the idea of ​​revenge; eliminating the past identity of the arrogant and privileged Fortunato, thus allowing himself to move on and adapt to a different life. He symbolizes moving on from his past by burying Fortunato; destroys that part of his past that can no longer exist in his present. He does all this for the sake of himself and his pride, nothing else. This is in contrast to the catalyst and motivations of Li...... middle of paper ......as an element that “The Cask of Amontillado” lacks; cause and effect. It's a clear, if distracting, account of the moment Lieutenant Cross realizes the damaging effects of dwelling on the past and decides to put it behind him. The resolution in this story is implicit, there is no proverbial "happy ending". Despite being set in very distant times, progressing differently, being in different circumstances, and having separate motivations, the moral of both stories is the same. Life needs a change and ultimately both men must let go of the past. Previous ideals and priorities can no longer function in the reality of the present; the harmful effects of the past create the circumstances that force both protagonists to move forward. For both men, living in the past means being your own worst enemy; there is no future in living in the past.