Imagery In The Masque Of The Red Death

In “The Masque of the Red Death,” Edgar Allan Poe uses imagery, sensory detail and symbolism not only to build suspense, but also to convey the idea that an individual can not hide or run away from death which becomes closer as time passes on. Throughout the story Poe uses imagery details to create suspense in the story. For example when the author is describing the disease that has taken many lives he describes the unfortunate event as, “ Blood was its Avator and its seal- the redness and the horror of blood. One can understand that in the story the tragic death of someone might occur as tragically as the disease is described. Accordingly, as the story progresses the deep shade of the color red is evident in many areas to represent symbolism.

One of the rooms has many dark red items such as, “ The panes here were scarlet- a deep dark color.” The individuals at the party did not want to go in that room because that color symbolized blood and death. The plague( Red Death) was the leading cause of death at the time and people did not want to catch the disease and blood was a major part of the plaque .Another example of when Poe uses symbolism is when he describes the clock in the seventh room. “ while the chimes of the clock yet rang, it was observed that the giddiest grew pale, and the more aged and sedate passed their hands over their brows as if in confused revery or meditation.
But when the echoes had fully ceased, a light laughter at once pervaded the assembly; the musicians looked at each other and smiled as if a their own nervousness and folly, and made whispering vows, each to the other, that the next chiming of the clock should produce in them no similar emotion;.” The author creates suspense by stating how the dancers were nervous when the clock chimed every hour of the thought of the time passing that symbolizes the end.

When Prince Prospero first sees mummer known as the Red Death “ he was seen to be convulsed in the first moment with a strong shudder either of terror of of distaste…” This creates suspense by giving the reader a cold feeling of the presence of a new individual. When the prince realizes that the Red Death is up to no good he decides to take matters into his own hands. Prince Prospero takes a dagger and chases the mummer threw all of the rooms. Suddenly, “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.” The reader now realizes that the prince has been murdered by an unknown force which gives the individual an uneasy feeling. In conclusion, Edgar Allan Poe creates suspense throughout this short story using symbolism and imaginary, sensory

details.