Examples Of Allegory In The Masque Of The Red Death

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“The Masque of the Red Death” is an allegory. Throughout, the story Poe uses recognizable symbols within the story to convey a message, which portrays both literally and allegorically, death, within this shorty story. As he uses the different vibrant colors of each room, his portrayal of the arrogance of Prospero’s rule, and ending with the ebony clock. Poe uses each of these concepts which relates to the Psychoanalytic critical theory allowing his perception to show through the setting, theme, and the characterization. First, within each of the seven different rooms to set the theme of the story, Poe shows that no matter how enthralled with life the story starts with, death sinks in and is inevitable, much like in life. Poe starts with six …show more content…

As the reader reaches the last and final room it is then again brought to the attention of the reader of the blood red color of scarlet. Whereas “the scarlet stains upon the body and especially upon the face of the victim” (Poe 431) and “the panes here were scarlet—a deep blood color” (Poe 432). Then only object within this room being that of and ebony gigantic clock. With each passing hour the pendulum would continue its work, and soon the grand masquerade would be brought to a halt. Silence would envelope the room and each of the revelers would be left with a slight disconcert. Then the appearance of a “tall, gaunt figure” appears. For the third time the color of scarlet is presented “His vesture was dabbled in blood—and his broad brow, with all the features of the face, was besprinkled with the scarlet horror” (Poe 433). The room still captive of the displacement of the masked figure and chill left behind from that of Thanatos. Death at work the Prince Prospero’s then killed followed by those of the revellers. Although just before his death and his denial, the reader is shown just what Prospero’s really felt “maddening with rage and the shame of his own momentary cowardice” (Poe 434) his fear of death. With his avoidance of the issues at hand the “Darkness and Decay and the Red Death held illimitable dominion over all” (Poe

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