Yuriy Goshovskiy

ENGLI-1101-NET59
FALL 2021
Masque of the Red Death vs COVID-19

Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Masque of the Red Death,” tells a tale about humanity versus

disease, a historic tale that describes present-day norms. From the arrogance of authority to the

injustice between the wealthy and the poor, Poe’s dark yet brilliant short story draws thematic

parallels to the present-day COVID-19 pandemic. In this essay, I will argue how these parallels

can be recognized by comparing and analyzing Poe’s fictitious short-story to an event during the

COVID-19 pandemic.

In “The Masque of the Red Death,” a country is swept by an epidemic called “the red

death.” The country’s ruler, Prince Prospero, seeks out safety for himself and his royal attendants

behind the walls of his castle. Meanwhile, the “red death” wreaked havoc outside and Prospero

throws a masked ball within the comfort of his castle. At the masked ball, people become aware

of a stranger dressed in red. This was no stranger; this was the red death. The same individuals

who left the commonfolk to die soon became victims. First fell Prince Prospero, and then his

courtiers: “…one by one dropped the revellers in the blood-bedewed halls of their revel, and died

each in the despairing posture of his fall…” (Poe). The arrogance and injustice of Prospero and

his followers left the Red Death victorious.

The arrogance and injustice that can be exhibited by Prospero is necessary to compare

and understand the inequality that occurs during a pandemic. By illustrating Prospero as a prince,

Poe highlights the arrogance of Prospero. Furthermore, his arrogance helps the audience

distinguish the inequality. In the short story, only a certain group of individuals with power are

fortunate enough to hide from death behind walls. However, the commonfolk are left to face it.

Though the Prospero protected the wealthy, he also did them no justice. Prospero’s following is
godlike; however, the wealthy are fooled into believing they’re safe behind the walls of the

castle: “The prince had provided all the appliances of pleasure… All these and security were

within. Without was the Red Death,” (Poe). Pleasure was the Red Death’s disguise. Prospero’s

arrogance only grew as he pretended to be a powerful figure – a smart, yet short-lived move in

the midst of a deadly epidemic with fearful people looking for a leader.

The arrogance and inequality exhibited in the short story is parallel to the present-day

COVID-19 pandemic. More recent evidence of this can be seen throughout the presidency of

former president Donald Trump. At the height of the pandemic, the US Centers for Disease

Control and Prevention recommended everyone to wear masks. Funnily enough, Trump ignored

this recommendation and of course, many other Americans followed along. In a 2020 news

article by the New York Times, we learn that Trump “…has played down the seriousness of the

virus” and even announced in October of 2020 that “the end of the pandemic is in sight,” (Baker

and Haberman). Clearly, he was wrong and big reason was due to his level of arrogancy. Similar

to how Prospero was arrogant, Trump’s arrogancy left him ill to the virus. Both figures

essentially “downplayed” what they had forgotten existed. Additionally, both Prince Prospero

and President Trump neglected the people. Prospero invited his high-class friends into the castle,

and Trump attended events where safety measures such as social distancing are ignored.

Poe began his story by writing “The “Red Death” had long devastated the country.”

Though the red death was deadly, Prince Prospero only made things worse by bringing arrogance

and inequality into his leadership. Similarly, ex-President Trump brought the same issues by

ignoring safety measures and playing down the severity of COVID-19. It was until both Prospero

and Trump had fallen victim to diseases they had ignored. In both stories, we see a parallel in

arrogance, inequality, and most importantly, poor authority.

 Works Cited

Poe, Edgar Allan. “The Masque of the Red Death.” The Poe Museum, 1842, poemuseum.org/the-

masque-of-the-red-death.

Baker, Peter, and Maggie Haberman. “Trump Tests Positive for the Coronavirus.” The New York

Times, 31 Dec. 2020, www.nytimes.com/2020/10/02/us/politics/trump-covid.html.