Symbolism In The Masque Of The Red Death

Elaborating Poe Blood and death are two major topics that the famous writer Edgar Allen Poe uses in his many writings. Edgar Allen Poe’s short story, The Masque of the Red Death, is a tale about Prince Prospero during the time of the Bubonic Plague. In the story the Prince, instead of aiding his kingdom, hides away with a select number of wealthy people. One night about five or six months into their seclusion, the Prince throws an extravagant party. This party ends in death and devastation, like most of Poe’s stories. This cautionary tale has an allegory about why one should always take care of their responsibilities. Poe’s story has plenty of symbolism: therefore inducing the theme of life and death. In The Masque of the Red Death, symbolism