The Masque of the Red Death

Abstract

This research paper discusses the story/ allegory, “The Masque of the Red Death”. This story is written by Edgar Allan Poe, (1809-1849). The world and particularly United States had been influenced by Poe's literature, cosmology and cryptography. It is one of the sensational gothic fictions, by Poe. This story consists of a set of familiar symbols whose combined meanings communicate a message. The symbols such as: the colors red and black, the ebony clock, the sequences of the rooms from east to west. This symbolizes the progression of a day: the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, symbolizing night as death. The blood and time descriptions throughout the story, point toward the morality of the physical world .The main character of the story; Prospero, the prince, represents wealth and prosperity. The ailment, the Red Death is fabricated and leads to death within half an hour. It is a horrifying disease with dreadful symptoms, which has brushed over the land. People suffering from it feel extreme agony, and sweat blood instead of water.This character of the allegory, the prince, despite all his wealth and power is helpless to fate. The story also means to penalize the arrogance, selfishness and belief of the prince, that because he was rich and powerful, he could mend everything. The story is about life and death, and the helplessness of humans to escape the clench of death. It also teaches a lesson that wealth cannot defy the natural tragic development of life.

Table of Contents

Abstractii

Introduction1

Discussion1

Conclusion4

References5

The Masque of the Red Death

Introduction

Edgar Allan Poe, was the author of, The Masque of the Red Death. He was born in 1809 and had died in 1849. This story is one of Poe's sensational gothic styles. Poe was one of the most prominent writers of the nineteenth century. He was a pioneer of numerous literary genres, styles, short story, Gothic fiction, and was considered the inventor of the detective/mystery story. The world and particularly United States had been influenced by Poe's literature, cosmology and cryptography (Meyers, & et al, 1992).

The Masque of the Red Death is a tale/ allegory. It consists of a set of familiar symbols whose combined meanings communicate a message. This story is about life and death and the helplessness of humans to escape the clench of death. No matter how stunning the palace, how lavish the living, no one is mortal, not even a prince, can run away from death. The story also means to penalize the arrogance and belief of the prince, that wealth can defy the natural progress of life. (SparkNotes Editors, 2002).

Thesis Statement

Wealth cannot defy the natural tragic development of life.

Discussion

The story The Masque of the Red Death, takes place at the luxurious castle of Prince Prospero. The rooms of the castle are aligned in a sequence, running from east to west. This symbolizes the progression of a day: the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, symbolizing night as ...