The Masque Of The Red Death Analysis - 1093 Words

As the human race is always persistent in coming up with new innovations, they have yet to solve one problem: death. The following tale about to unfold before you is an emblem that death is inevitable. Edgar Allan Poe’s â€Å"The Masque of the Red Death† may seem like a grotesque story, but in reality it shows the symbolism that no one can escape their fate. This story shows that the amount of wealth you have is no match for your ultimate demise. As a horrible plague (the â€Å"Red Death†) devoured any one who stepped foot in its path, â€Å"Prince Prospero was happy and dauntless, and sagacious.† (Baym 2007) Prince Prospero invited one-thousand knights, dames, and the pecunious people to stay in his castle to escape the â€Å"Red Death†. This left the†¦show more content†¦But we will never know the real reason. It could be because of William Shakespeare’s â€Å"Seven Ages of Men†, or Christianity’s seven deadly sins. T here are more speculations, but my personal perception would be one of these two. Although Poe was not very religious in his later years, he went to church a lot when he was a child which could have influenced his stories. The vivid colors used in each room would lead me to assume that the rooms actually represent the stages of life. On the most eastern side (where the sun rises) would be infant, then the colors in-between would be your years after infancy, then lastly on the furthest western side (where the sun sets) would be death since the room is black. If this is so then Mr. Poe has based the seven different rooms as an allegation to William Shakespeare’s â€Å"Seven Ages of Men†. In this poem Mr. Shakespeare states, the seven ages of man are â€Å"the infant, the whining school-boy, the lover, the soldier, the justice, the lean and slipper’d pantaloons, and lastly second childishness and mere oblivion.† (Harcourt) This symbolizes in the story that death will come to everyone. No one can hide, and there is no escape. On the other hand, if Poe was to use Christianity’s seven sins, as a symbol for the rooms then the dictionary defines â€Å"the deadly sins as pride, covetousness, lust, anger, gluttony, envy, and sloth.† (dictionary) In this tale some of these sins are clear like pride, gluttony, and anger. But the others are notShow MoreRelatedLiterary Analysis Of The Masque Of The Red Death797 Words   |  4 PagesLiterary Analysis Paper Jameson Sexton Hour 7 Don’t attempt to change your fate, I’m warning you. â€Å"The Masque of the Red Death† and â€Å"The Monkey’s Paw† are examples of why not to mess with your fate. In both stories, the characters attempted changing their fate and ends in a very bad outcome. The characters, both learned that if you try changing your fate there is going be a horrific consequence. There is a terrible sickness spreading throughout their town. â€Å"No pestilence had ever been so fatalRead MoreMasque Of The Red Death Analysis804 Words   |  4 Pages Death is a terrifying prospect for most people , imagine being face to face with it. In Edgar Allan Poe’s â€Å"Masque of the Red Death†, the revelers were in this very situation. Prince Pospero’s country was devastated by the Red Death. A plaque that resulted in a painful, gruesome, death. Prince Pospero being the selfish uncaring man he is, locked himself and a thousand of his lighthearted friends in his abbey to hide from the Red Death. After 6 months of seclusion Prince Pospero throws a masqueradeRead MoreAnalysis Of Masque Of The Red Death 969 Words   |  4 Pages4 May 2015 One Must Face Death in â€Å"Masque of The Red Death† Death is unavoidable. It is something that no one can escape. Edgar Allan Poe is a well-known author in literature and was greatly influenced by the way death was presented in life and the resurrection of the dead. In â€Å"The Masque of the Red Death†, Poe uses symbolism, personification, and imagery to illustrate how death is inevitable and how life will ultimately lead to death. The theme of death being inevitable is firstRead MoreThe Masque Of The Red Death Analysis1117 Words   |  5 Pageshorrorerous descriptions. In â€Å"The Masque of the Red Death ¨, Edgar Allan Poe uses symbolism to portray the mood of death and despair with imagery though his descriptions of time, fear, and obliteration to develop the theme of the story. This is more than just a simple horror narrative. Throughout the story, the Masque of the  ¨Red Death ¨ corresponds with the uses of symbolism to portray the mood of death and despair. To break the title apart, the key image of the  ¨Masque ¨ implies a historic view of aRead MoreThe Masque Of The Red Death Analysis782 Words   |  4 PagesThe Masque of the Red Death The â€Å"Masque of the Red Death†, written by Edgar Allen Poe is an undoubted suspenseful piece of literature based on the most catastrophic epidemic in human history. There are many possible themes in this work, but the one to be focused on is pride. Poe uses imagery, symbolism, and allegory to turn the story into something more than a basic work of fiction. Following the death of over half his kingdom the protagonist, Prince Prospero, invites a bunch of nobles to his safeRead MoreAvoiding Reality: â€Å"The Masque of the Red Death† Analysis858 Words   |  4 PagesBrandon DeLeon McCloud English 2H November 4, 2013 Avoiding Reality: â€Å"The Masque of the Red Death† Analysis Throughout the gothic horror short story, â€Å"The Masque of the Red Death†, Edgar Allan Poe illustrates the struggle of an egotistical prince who refuses to face the inevitable reality of death. Through the downfall of the protagonist, Poe establishes the idea that the inability to face reality often leads to the destruction of the mind. The downfall of the Prince is emphasized by Poe’sRead MoreThe Masque Of The Red Death Symbolism Analysis954 Words   |  4 PagesDarkness of Symbolism Gothic literature often has a common theme of fear and/or death. Author Edgar Allan Poe is the most well known gothic writer because of his famous dark and frightening short stories such as â€Å"The Masque of the Red Death.† Poe is so popular because of his ability to write stories that leave lasting effects on all readers. In this story, he uses many small symbols that then relate to the major symbols, such as Prince Prospero, his name represents his prosperous lifestyle. TheRead MoreThe Cask Of Amontillado And The Masque Of The Red Death Analysis1403 Words   |  6 Pagestell stories, within imagination, and suspense towards his readers. Moreover, the majority of Poe’s life relates to his storytelling through, mystery and suspense, considering his sudden death at the age of 40. Edgar Allen Poe created a unique voice in his stories, The Cask of Amontillado and The Masque of the Red Death, through common theme, diction, and point of view. First and foremost, in The Cask of Amontillado , Poe uses the need for revenge, as a significant theme throughout the entire story.Read MoreMasque Of The Red Death By Edgar Allan Poe Analysis758 Words   |  4 Pagescreate his style. In Masque of the Red Death it states, No pestilence had ever been so fatal or so hideous. (†¦) The abbey was amply provisioned. With such precautions the courteirs might bid defiance to contagion. The external world could take care of itself. (†¦) There were buffoons, there were improvisatori, there were ballet-dancers, there were musicians, there was Beauty, there was wine. All these and security within. While the outside world was suffering from the Red Death, Prince ProsperoRead MoreLiterary Analysis Of Edgar Allan Poe s The Masque Of The Red Death1409 Words   |  6 PagesA Literary Analysis of Edgar Allan Poe’s â€Å"The Masque of the Red Death† Edgar Allan Poe is popularly known as a Gothic short story writer. He has produced many gruesome stories, including the short story â€Å"The Masque of the Red Death†. In this short tale, Prince Prospero decides to lock himself and his friends of the court into a magnificently decorated abbey to escape becoming ill of a disease which has caused half the people in his land to perish. The Prince provides indulgences and throws parties