The Masque Of The Red Death Essay

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The deadliest plague to hit the world appeared in Europe in the 1340s, taking an estimated 25 million innocent lives and lingering for centuries afterward. 30-60% of Europe's population decreased as the sickness terrorized everyone in their homes. Similar to this very real tragedy, the Red Death mentioned in Edgar Allan Poe's famous work, "Masque of the Red Death", caused the death of thousands in this fictional kingdom. Poe, one of the most famous gothic horror writers, used this deadly plague to showcase how little we can do as a people to avoid death. Gothic horror writers often portrayed death and destruction in their works. Poe was not an exception, as exemplified in his story "The Masque of the Red Death". This tale takes place in a land where a horrific and deadly plague, called the Red Death, ravages the country. Prince Prospero attempted to avoid this plaque by inviting all of his friends to a party in his isolated castle. However, he and his guests "one by one dropped ... in the blood-bedewed halls of their revel, and died each in the …show more content…

Edgar Allan Poe often used ghosts, spirits, and monsters to represent larger events or problems going on in the world. In "The Masque of the Red Death", the guests at the party notice a "figure [who] was tall and gaunt, and shrouded from head to foot in the habiliments of the grave (Poe 5)". The stranger goes on to wander the halls before the Prince notices his presence. When he does, he threatens the figure and charges toward him, before the stranger "turned suddenly and confronted his pursuer ... instantly afterwards, fell prostrate in death the Prince Prospero (Poe 6)". After the prince dies, so do the rest of the party guests as the Red Death consumes them all. The figure made its way into the party unnoticed, and killed the mighty prince by simply looking at him, suggesting that he is not of this

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