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The Masque of The Red Death Essay

This essay analyzes Edgar Allan Poe's short story "The Masque of the Red Death" and identifies three symbols that represent Poe's allegorical message: 1) The clock symbolizes the passing of time and the inevitability of death's approach. 2) The masked figure symbolizes the Black Death/Bubonic Plague and death's ability to affect everyone regardless of wealth or status. 3) Prince Prospero symbolizes the foolish belief that wealth and power can allow one to escape death. Through these symbols, Poe conveys his overall message that death is inevitable and cannot be escaped.

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95 views3 pages

The Masque of The Red Death Essay

This essay analyzes Edgar Allan Poe's short story "The Masque of the Red Death" and identifies three symbols that represent Poe's allegorical message: 1) The clock symbolizes the passing of time and the inevitability of death's approach. 2) The masked figure symbolizes the Black Death/Bubonic Plague and death's ability to affect everyone regardless of wealth or status. 3) Prince Prospero symbolizes the foolish belief that wealth and power can allow one to escape death. Through these symbols, Poe conveys his overall message that death is inevitable and cannot be escaped.

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Mia Epting Epting 1

Ms. Woelke

Pre-AP English 9A

5 November 2018

“The Masque of the Red Death” Essay

Edgar Allan Poe writes the short story “The Masque of the Red Death,” providing an

example of an allegory through the use of symbolism. An allegory is a story that can be

interpreted to reveal a hidden message written by the author, sometimes through the use of

symbols. In Poe’s story, the literal meaning of the quote describes a murderer, who disrupts the

party and eventually massacres all of the guests. The allegorical lesson provided in his story

conveys the message that death reaches all eventually and is inescapable. Edgar Allan Poe uses

symbols within his story, such as the clock, the masked figure, and Prince Prospero to represent

the hidden allegorical message.

The first symbol used by Poe in his writing is a clock, representing the passing of time. In

the red velvet hallways of the palace, every time the clock strikes the hour, “for a moment, all is

still, and all is silent” (Poe 3). The nonmetaphorical description of this quote is that the chiming

of the clock disrupts the party and evokes fear within the guests. The figurative meaning

represents that at each strike of the clock, the death that the guests tried to escape, was nearing

closer and closer. Later in the story, came “yet another chiming of the clock,” and brings the

same terror to the individuals as felt before (Poe 2). This illustrates how the walls of the palace

could not stop death because death has no limitations. Once the guests realized that the chiming

wasn't just a clock striking the hour, but instead was a reminder that death was inching closer, a
silent fear arose. The clock thoroughly symbolizes the allegory through death drawing nearer as

time runs out.

Another symbol that Poe applies to this writing is the masked figure, which acts as the

Black Death or Bubonic Plague. The guests “acknowledged the presence” of the masked figure

as the black death, and how it “had come like a thief in the night”(Poe 5). This quote states that

the masked figure arrived, confronting the guests with the realization that death caught up to

them and was impossible to elude. Poe describes that the Black Plague didn't discriminate

against wealth and position, proving that the wealthy party-goers hiding was pointless. Their

celebration was interrupted when the masked figure abruptly kills the guests “and died each in

the despairing posture of his fall” (Poe 5). This quote exemplifies how the plague had no

preference for its victims, including those who hid behind their wealth. The Black Plague

imposed suffering on all, leading those who have it, to endure the most intolerable pain. Overall,

the masked figure symbolizes the black death and the wrath it brought.

Finally, Poe uses Prince Prospero to symbolize his wrong thoughts that money and power

can be used to escape the reality of death. Prince Prospero grew angry with the masked figures'

disruption of his masquerade, which led him to try to kill him. However, the dagger he tried to

use “dropped gleaming upon the sable carpet,” and instantaneously after he “fell prostrate in

death” (Poe 4). This shows how Prince Prospero perceived himself as powerful and almost even

indomitable but is proven wrong in his attempt to annihilate the masked intruder. Furthermore

justifying the fact that Prospero’s foolish view of how power can overrule death is false. Prince

Prospero also selfishly threw a masked ball “while the pestilence raged most furiously abroad”

diverting his company with “the most unusual magnificence” (Poe 1). Poe describes how Prince
Prospero thought that he could escape death with his wealth. Then, further on, shows off his

fortune and power to his invitees while others less fortunate were dying from the plague outside

the palace walls. Prince Prospero demonstrates the ideal symbol to reflect Poe’s overall

allegorical message.

To conclude, Edgar Allan Poe uses symbolism to illustrate his allegorical theme. He used

the clock, the masked figure, and Prince Prospero to additionally emphases his hidden meaning

that death can't be hidden. Readers learn Poe’s message and how symbolism provides a finer

description of a writer's hidden message. Allegorical messages can also introduce a new

historical event, such as the Bubonic Plague to the reader.

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