The mask of the red death

“ The Masque of the Red Death”

“The Mask of the Red Death” is a short-story written by Edgard Allan Poe, an American author, poet, editor and literary critic considered part of the AmericanRomantic movement and best known for his tales of macabre, this author was born on January 19 1809 and died on October 7 1849. This short-story was written in third person and takes place at a Castle-likeabbey where the main character a selfish, dauntless, sagacious and happy Princes prospero attempts to avoid a dangerous plague known as the Red Death by hiding in his abbey, he along with many otherwealthy nobles.

The atmospheres are represented by the traditional gothic fiction including the Castle adds to the sitting of the story giving it horror and macabre feelings which Poe was well knownfor, his use of single coloured rooms are used to represent the human mind and he also seems to use the colour red as a means to symbolise both life and death.

The themes of the short-story talkabout that no one can escape from pestilence which has been devastating the country,it is human nature, trying to escape from death or any desease it is something that no one can avoid, for example somepeople make unnecesary visits to physicians, refuse to prepare a will or buy magic pills that promise youthful vigor well into old age. The other theme talks about selfishness; the selfish memebersif this community especially leaders have to duty to help those in need, Prospero and his courtiers abandon the rank and they protect themselves hiding at the Castle which has a magnificent wall madeby iron, so that no one from outside can get in, Poe implies that the prince is acting shamefully.

The story takes place at a Castle- like abbey of the happy, dauntless and sagacious PrinceProspero, he and thousands other noblles are taking refuge in a walled abbey to escape from the Red Death, a terrible plague that has been sweeping the land. The symptoms of this disease are gruesome to...