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Hannah Miller
Mrs. Woleke
English p.6 The Masque of the Red Death
11/12/19

In “The Masque of the Red Death” by Edgar Allan Poe, a frightened, cowardly prince

throws a masquerade for his company who have been hiding from death and only helping

themselves. Throughout the story, Poe uses subjects in the story like the clock, lights, and rooms

to express his allegorical lesson that no one can prevent the inevitability of fate.

In his writing Poe explains his symbolism through imagery, figurative language, and

detail. For instance, “There stood, opposite to each window, a heavy tripod, bearing a brazier of

fire, that projected its rays through the tinted glass and so gloringly illumined the room” (Poe 2).

This piece of evidence shows the fragmented pieces of hope the Prince and his company are

clinging to… It also represents Prosperos desperation to not be overtaken by death. These lights

are their final glimmers of happiness before death overtakes them. As the night gradually wore

on, “the flames of the tripod expired. And Darkness and the Red Death held illimatible dominion

over all” (Poe 5). Though they seemed to be thriving, not even the wealthiest and powerful can

live forever. These flames, at the end of the story, represent the extingushing of all life.

By describing the many rooms of the palace, Poe is applies symbolism to the story to

help readers further understand the lesson. An example is, “The panes were scarlet- a deep blood

color” (Poe 2). Though they have lights to keep away the dark, death and darkness contiuned

creeping throughout the palace”, evidently foreshadowing the events that are to come…The…

“effect of the fire light streamed upon the dark hangings through the blood tinted panes was

ghastly in the extreme, and produces a wild look upon the counteances of those who entered, that
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there were few of the company bold enough to set foot within the precinits at all” (Poe 2). Based

off this evidence it’s clear that the wealthy tried to ignore they’re problems and fear, but it all

caught up to them within time.

The main symbol in the story that best shows the lesson is the clock because it really

captures the essence of no escape, for “While the chimes 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” (Poe 2). Evidentally, the clock is located in the last room, the black room

which represents the end of the day or cycle, so death. The clock is basically the timer of how

much time they have left. Lastly, “There commenced the sounding of midnight upon the clock…

but the mummer had gone so far as to assume the type of the Red Death. (Poe 4). This final

quote shows that everybody runs out of time, and death doesn’t wait for anybody.

To conclude, Poe configures a wonderfully spooky story full symbols, imagery, and

figurative language, disgusing his allegorical lesson that nobody can run from fate.