Literacy review
The Masque of the Red Death by Edgar Allan Poe is a dark and symbolic short story that explores the inevitability of death and the illusion of control. The story settings was during a deadly plague which is known as the Red Death, that kills the victims quickly and violently. The main character, prince Prospero was a wealthy and powerful ruler and he believes that he can escape the deathly disease by isolating himself and his nobles inside a fortified abbey.
The plot was about a grand masquerade ball held inside the abbey. There are seven different rooms which are arranged in seven different colors, creating a strange, dreamlike and unreal setting. However, the general mood of the ball shifts as a mysterious masked figure appears, dressed as a victim of the Red Death. Despite Prince Prospero’s anger, the figure cannot be stopped, it kills the Prince brutally. When it is finally confronted, it is revealed that there is nothing beneath the costume, and soon after, everyone cannot escape their fates of being killed by the disease.
The writer uses symbolism throughout the story to convey deeper meanings. For example, the seven colored rooms represent the stages of human life, progressing from birth to death. The final room, described as black with red windows, the colors which are associated with death. This is supported by the fact that “few of the company were bold enough to set foot within its precincts,” showing that people naturally fear death and avoid thinking about it.
Another important device is personification, especially seen in the Red Death itself, which acts like a living being that “comes like a thief in the night.” This makes death feel powerful and unavoidable, rather than just a disease. The ebony clock is also symbolic and represents time. Each time it strikes, “the musicians were constrained to pause,” and the guests fall silent. This shows how time controls human life and constantly reminds them of their mortality.
Poe also creates a strong gothic atmosphere using imagery and setting. The descriptions of “blood-tinted panes” and dark rooms create a sense of horror and tension. The contrast between the joyful party and the terrifying figure is an example of irony, as the guests believe they are safe, yet they are actually trapped with death itself. This highlights the theme that wealth and power cannot protect people from fate.
Moreover, irony was also used. As Prince Prospero’s name has a meaning of good fortune, which means that it meant to protect him from bad luck. However, even so, his wealth and power cannot guarantee that he can escape the fate of being killed by the diseasee like a normal person, even though he tried to isolate himself and the highclass people in his abbeys from the victims of the disease.
In conclusion, the write has effectively used different literary devices such as symbolism, personification, imagery, and irony to convey the message that death is inevitable. The Masque of the Red Death leaves a powerful impact on the reader by showing that no matter how much people is trying to escape reality, they cannot avoid their ultimate fate that had been decided for them.