Edgar Allen Poe's The Masque Of The Red Death

Edgar Allen Poe wrote the story The Masque Of The Red Death over the Bubonic Plague, with a spice of life. Edgar used bucket fulls of symbolism in the story to reflect on the theme of life These symbols range from rooms, individual characters, to clocks, and even social events. Through all of this symbolism, there are many notes to be taken of and lessons to be learned, especially from all the incorrect things done within the story. Though after reading the story, the reader can connect that a lot of issues with present problems in life.

Many of the symbolism in the short story heavily reflects on the morals of life, and the seven main stages in life. Poe describes “That at the eastern extremity was hung, for example, in blue---and vividly

blue were its windows. The second chamber was purple in its ornaments and tapestries, and here the panes were purple. The third was green throughout, and so were the casements. The fourth was furnished and lighted with orange---the fifth with white---the sixth with violet. The seventh apartment was closely shrouded in black velvet tapestries that hung all over the ceiling and down the walls, falling in heavy folds upon a carpet of the same material and hue.” (448) Here, Poe clearly describes the rooms in intense detail, which these are set in an east to west order as well, as the sun rises and sets from the east to west. The stages in order are, Prenatal, Infancy, Early Childhood, Late Childhood, Adolescent, Adulthood, and Old Age. Though these rooms could be taken as the sins of life as well. “Now in no one of the seven apartments were there any lamp or candelabrum amid the profusion of golden ornaments that lay scattered to and fro or depended from the roof.” (448) Poe desires the reader to see that none of the rooms have a light source in them except the exterior lighting, coming from the sun, outside, as it gives it a darker taste, as if to symbolize the 7 deadly sins.Though, it could be either way, depending on the reader’s perspective on the symbolism.

As the rooms symbolizes life, many other items and events symbolize life as well, which leads to this story’s theme.

The theme of life in the story is very pressed with all of the symbolism as hints, like Prospero’s characteristics, the 7 rooms, the clock, and even the masquerade itself. Prince Prospero has characteristics, such as his arrogance and his ignorance. As it states “It was toward the close of the fifth or sixth month of his seclusion, and while the pestilence raged most furiously abroad, that the Prince Prospero entertained his thousand friends at a masked ball of the most unusual magnificence.” At the time this story takes place, the bubonic plague is going around, and Prince Prospero is ignorant enough and throws a social event in his castle. Just because he is royalty, does not mean that death won’t get him. Death will eventually consume everybody; like everybody is in this huge gumball machine, each one will be popped out at a different time, everybody has their own time and destiny. As Poe states “He bore aloft a drawn dagger, and had approached, in rapid impetuosity to within three or four feet of the retreating figure, when the latter, having attained the extremity of the velvet apartment, turned suddenly and confronted his pursuer. There was a sharp cry---and the dagger dropped gleaming upon the sable carpet, upon which, instantly afterwards, fell prostrate in death the Prince Prospero.” (452) This proves even the highest or the mightiest of them all are

not invincible or immortal. This should be taken into account today, due to the fact people are too careless with sickness and prone to injuries.

As the symbolism reflects off of the theme of life, there are many lessons to be learned inside the story. The main lesson however, is to not be ignorant or arrogant, and be considerate of yourself and those around you. If Prospero would not have had the masquerade, no one would have died inside his castle. Who knows, maybe not one of the party guests would have either. However, not only just was Prospero ignorant, so were the other guests, knowing the bubonic plague had been going around, yet they still made the decision to attend the social event. Yet people still make the same mistake of being inconsiderate in this generation. One of the mistakes like this could include people still going to school when they are sick and it is contagious, which can prove to be an annoyance.