Symbolism is the use of an object to represent an idea. In "The Cask of Amontillado", Fortunato's costume, particularly the jester's hat, is a symbol because he was ridiculed when Montresor tricked him into murdering him. Another symbol is the Amontillado, the drink was used to fool Fortunato and also because of Fortunato's ego to drink the wine first, he got fooled. Niter is also a symbol because it is defined as “the white canvas that shines on the walls of these caverns…” (“The Cask of Amontillado” 105). The nitres represent the web of lies and the trap that Montresor sets for Fortunato. In “The Fall of the House of Usher,” the house itself is a symbol. The decaying house is meant to be both literal and metaphorical symbolism. The house is described as having "vacant eye-shaped windows" with "rotten trees" and "mushrooms" everywhere. He was described as having a "depressed soul" ("The Fall of the House of Usher" 112). Just like the depressing house, Roderick himself is depressed and his sister is deteriorating like the house. The house is lifeless, just like those who inhabit it. In both short stories the symbolism was well incorporated, the symbols Poe used gave excellent imagery of what it was meant to mean.