Preview

Symbolism In The Masque Of The Red Death By Edgar Allan Poe

Better Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1463 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Symbolism In The Masque Of The Red Death By Edgar Allan Poe
Symbolism is the use of signs or situations to signify or represent an idea. (“Symbolism”) In order to successfully incorporate this literary technique in “The Masque of the Red Death” the author, Edgar Allan Poe, not only uses the significant meanings of color but various other objects and characters as well. According to Michael Cummings, author of The Masque of the Red Death: A Study Guide, “The Masque of the Red Death” was published in May of 1842 and its genre can be identified as horror and gothic fiction due to the constant references to illness, bloodshed, and death. It is one of the many pieces where Edgar Allan Poe imposes fright among the reader. Poe has a tendency to write in such a nature due to his past. With a theme that death …show more content…
He accomplishes this in “The Masque of the Red Death” by giving ordinary things a deeper meaning. Examples of this include, the seven apartments within the castle that have distinct colors, the prince, and the ebony clock. Poe uses these simple things to represent an idea that is typically dark or related to his infamous theme of death. Prince Prospero represents willful ignorance, selfishness, and failed leadership. His actions throughout the short story prove this, as he is described, “the Prince Prospero was happy and dauntless and sagacious” (Menendez 3). It symbolizes the manner in which the government handled the real life epidemic that Poe refers to in his short story. Those infected with the plague are left for dead and in the meantime, others ignore it. This situation allows the audience to truly self-reflect on their moral values. As for the ebony clock, it is used as a way to convey the theme and remind the reader that death is unavoidable. The masqueraders have no control of stopping time and are described to be frozen in terror as the clock strikes, “At each lapse of an hour, the musicians of the orchestra were constrained to pause, momentarily, in their performance, to hearken to the sound; and thus the waltzers perforce ceased their evolutions; and there was a brief disconcert of the whole gay company” (Menendez 5). This shows their awareness of death, although they are trying to ignore it. Poe skillfully infused this message with the clock as the symbol. The most significant example of this technique in the short story is the seven apartments which can be interpreted to symbolize the seven stages of life according to Trent Lorcher, author of Bright Hub article, Symbolism in the Masque of the Red Death. The meaning of the rooms and their colors each represent something different. The first room which is blue represents birth, youth is symbolized with
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    The Use of Symbolism in “Masque of the Red Death�? by Edgar Allan Poe Essay Example
    • 571 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The Use of Symbolism in “Masque of the Red Death�? by Edgar Allan Poe Essay Example

    He starts of describing the seven apartments and how bizarre they look “There were seven…while the folding doors…” (234). the fact that there were seven rooms is symbolic in itself due to that there are seven stages in life. Poe uses the number of rooms to describe the stages of life in a way that the first room symbolizes birth and the seventh room symbolizes death. In every room there are decorated stained glass windows along with the carpet that coordinate with the color of the room. The first room, blue symbolizing birth, purple is the developmental stage of life, green for the nourishment. The orange room represents the setting of the sun, the ending of life, leading to the white room for the ascension into heaven. The seventh and final room being black velvet represents death. It is in the seventh room that draws a feeling of fear among the prince’s guests and is avoided. The room is entirely decorated in black except for the window panes which were that of a scarlet. “There stood…a brazier of fire… (235). There is a fire that prominently illuminates the room where an ebony clock stands striking at every hour.…

    • 571 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    How Does Edgar Allan Poe Use Symbols In The Masque Of The Red Death
    • 159 Words
    • 1 Page

    How Does Edgar Allan Poe Use Symbols In The Masque Of The Red Death

    Many writers use symbols to express how they feel about a specific situation. In "The Masque of the red Death Death" by edgar Allan Poe uses symbolic messages through the seven rooms, orange room, and blck chamber to show the different stages and meanings of life.…

    • 159 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Compare And Contrast The Masque Of The Red Death
    • 264 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Compare And Contrast The Masque Of The Red Death

    "Masque of the Red Death" Poe uses a representation of the "evil red death" to…

    • 264 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    The Black Cat Analysis Essay
    • 1596 Words
    • 7 Pages

    The Black Cat Analysis Essay

    "No pestilence had ever been so fatal, or so hideous. Blood was its avatar and its seal- the redness and the horror of blood" (1). Edgar Allan Poe was a master of the macabre; his very stories injecting fear into the hearts of his readers. Poe's life was filled with tragedy, as several of the important women in his life, including his wife and daughter died at a young age. He utilized poems and books to express that tragedy. The short stories, "The Black Cat," and, "The Masque of the Red Death," both written by Poe, enhance the theme of fear. "The Black Cat," was about a narrator who had gone crazy and was so overcome by guilt that he went to extreme measures including…

    • 1596 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Poe's The Masque Of The Red Death
    • 178 Words
    • 1 Page

    Poe's The Masque Of The Red Death

    In Poe’s “The Masque of the Red Death”, the color of the most eastern and most western chamber are significance to the message of the story. In Roppolo’s Literary Criticism, he explains, “To Blair, as to many others, there is ‘allegorical signification’ in the seven rooms, which, ‘progressing from east to west—from blue to black—connote the seven ages of man from the blue of the dawn of life to the black of its night.’” The message Poe presents is that no living thing can avoid its fate of death no matter how it tries to protect itself or escape it. The blue most eastern chamber represents the birth of dawn and the black velvet and red most western chamber depicts death and night, demonstrating that as Prince Prospero and the guest run through…

    • 178 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Examples Of Allegory In The Masque Of The Red Death
    • 579 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Examples Of Allegory In The Masque Of The Red Death

    Edgar Allan Poe’s short story “The Masque of the Red Death“ is a very gothic laced story resembling humanity. Poe uses the allegory of a Masquerade Ball in a castle and all of its attendees as a sample to represent a broad hidden statement about the grimness and blindness of man under all of their face level of partying and bliss. This being the case, results in an unfortunate and untimely demise for them as they are visited by an enigmatic figure. The hidden message in Edgar Allan Poe’s allegory, “Masque of the Red Death,” is that no matter what circumstance that comes at man, he will always be the embodiment of sin awaiting death at the end of his road.…

    • 579 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Symbolism In The Masque Of Red Death
    • 276 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Symbolism In The Masque Of Red Death

    In the “Masque Of Red Death” by Edgar Allen Poe, Poe uses imagery and symbolism to create an allegory that communicates to the reader the idea that nobody is able to escape death. In the story, Prince Prospero and his royal friends seclude themselves away from a plague called red death that is killing every poor soul it comes in contact with. As the royals entertain themselves with a masquerade, red death himself arrives at the party, finishing up of what's left of human civilization. Now the first thing that is found that creates imagery and symbolism is a line in the story that says,”While the chimes of the clock yet ran, it was observed that the giddiest grew pale”.(Poe pg.5) This shows a symbol of a black grandfather…

    • 276 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Edgar Allan Poe's Infatuation with Death in, The Masque of the Red Death
    • 1498 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Edgar Allan Poe's Infatuation with Death in, The Masque of the Red Death

    The introduction of Poe's famous short story, "The Masque of the Red Death" illustrates the disease that is gruesomely killing it's victims. There was sudden dizziness, sharp pains, and then profuse bleeding from the pores, lasting about half an hour until killing it's victim. As The Red Death is rapidly spreading throughout the country, Prince Prospero is optimistic and derives a plan. He decides to lock the gates of his palace inviting only a thousand of his peers to be spared from the disease. After five months the Prince throws an elaborate masquerade ball, decorating each room in a certain color. The first chamber was vividly blue, the second was purple along with it's tapestry. The third was green and the fourth chamber was orange, the fifth was white and the sixth was violet. The seventh apartment was the most grotesque of all, decorated in black with velvet curtains. It is the only chamber that the window hue did not correspond with the walls, the window was a scarlet red symbolizing blood. "Death cannot be barred from the palace...it is in the blood, part and parcel of our humanity, not an external invader." (Kennedy 111-133.) At midnight an unknown guest appears, dressed as…

    • 1498 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Symbolism In The Masque Of The Red Death
    • 734 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Symbolism In The Masque Of The Red Death

    You have to know that even though you are wealthy it does not mean you can escape death. In the short story "The Masque of the Red Death", written by Edgar Allan Poe, is about a masquerade party that is hosted by a man named Prince Prospero. During the plague, Prince Prospero invites his light-hearted friends to come to his castle and have fun while people are dying outside. In the middle of the party, it was interrupted by a guest dressed in garments related with the plague of the "Red Death". All of the guests began to die as they touch or recognized the Red Death. The allegory is sending a message of how "Death is inevitable and you can't escape it even if you are wealthy.” In Edgar Allan Poe's story, he uses symbolism throughout the story. He used Prince Prospero, the seven rooms, and the clock.…

    • 734 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Theme Of Fear In The Masque Of The Red Death By Edgar Allan Poe
    • 1537 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Theme Of Fear In The Masque Of The Red Death By Edgar Allan Poe

    In “The Black Cat,” Poe uses words such as “horror” (1), “murder” (6) and “gore” (6), all of which emphasized the narrator’s insanity and his fear of the cat which he felt he must remove. His abhorrence of the cat grew when it, “inflicted a slight wound upon my hand with his teeth” (5). This caused the narrator to feel like he was possessed by a demon, with his original soul now gone, replaced by a “fiendish malevolence” (5). Clearly, the narrator is someone who fears everything and has something wrong mentally. Additionally the narrator had a growing fear of his cat referring to it as a “monster” (5) and a “burden on my soul,” (5). These thoughts show that the narrator felt like the cat knew of his hideous deed and it caused him much guilt, even though the cat didn’t. This diction contrasts with, “The Masque of the Red Death,” as Poe initially uses words such as “happy” (1), “palaces” (1) and “magnificent” (1), to suggest the Prince Prospero doesn’t seem to care much for the dangers of the terrible disease--the Red Death--but instead wants to focus on having a good time and partying when throughout his kingdom, the Red Death is claiming many lives. This originally portrays that the palace of Prince Prospero is a much safer and joyful place than the deranged lair of the narrator in “The Black Cat,” and it seems like…

    • 1537 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Edgar Allen Poe's The Masque Of The Red Death
    • 574 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Edgar Allen Poe's The Masque Of The Red Death

    “I never want to die” a phrase uttered by one man, but a thought nearly universal. Edgar Allen Poe’s allegorical short story The Masque of the Red Death is an unflawed demonstration of mankind’s unwillingness to face demise. In the story, a hideous plague is prevalent in the kingdom of Prince Prospero. In a selfish act to save himself and many of his light-hearted friends from the terrible pestilence, he abandons his people and shuts himself in his opulent abbey. With his only concern being to have a luxurious and enjoyable experience. The prince has a voluptuous masked ball despite the misery of his lands. Yet, the prince’s attempt to escape and forget death ultimately fails. The theme of this story is that death is inevitable and impossible to ignore. The ebony clock represents the theme, which is evident through its chime’s powerful ability to produce unwanted sentiments in Prince Prospero’s guest and the clock itself shows the progression of life.…

    • 574 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The Red Death Figurative Language
    • 1013 Words
    • 5 Pages

    The Red Death Figurative Language

    In the story, Prince Prospero tries to isolate himself in his castle, with the iron doors welded shut and even entertainers and his court to accompany him. He does this to prevent the Red Death from infecting him, but, towards the end of the story, a masked figure, symbolizing the Red Death, reveals itself. As a result, Prince Prospero rages over how anyone could have gotten in, but it turns out that Death was there along and he eventually kills everyone. Poe states, “And now was acknowledged the presence of the Red Death. He had come like a thief in the night…..And Darkness and Decay and the Red Death help illimitable dominion over all”(pg.61). It is ironic how Prince Prospero did everything to keep the Red Death out of his castle, but Death was there all along. He was so fearful of Death that he actually thought that he could prevent it. But of course, when “the life of the ebony clock went out with that of the last gay”(61). The masked figure took the lives of all the people in Prince Prospero’s castle because people cannot escape death. Poe is trying to explain that Death will always be apart of a person’s destiny and it’s better just live life to the fullest, rather than letting the fear of Death take over one’s…

    • 1013 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The Masquerade Symbolism
    • 384 Words
    • 2 Pages

    The Masquerade Symbolism

    Poe makes the party a masquerade, to symbolize that the Prince and his guests are hiding things, more specifically from themselves. The symbolism of the masquerade also serves as an important setting as it is where the conflict with the red death figure happened. The red death’s appearance justifies itself in showing up at the party as “the mask which concealed the visage was made so nearly to resembles the countenance of a stiffened corpse that the closest scrutiny must have had difficulty in detecting the cheat” which made the figure seem like another guest at the party. The masquerade itself has to do with masks which symbolizes in hiding. The guests and Prospero are both hiding the fact that they do not feel comfortable in the castle as…

    • 384 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Gothic Poe and Hawthorne
    • 1173 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Gothic Poe and Hawthorne

    Gothic literature was influence by gothic architecture. The story of “Masque of the Red Death,” Poe uses the castle to gives it a gothic style. Prince Prospero and his friends also welded the doors shut so no one could enter. The story is set in Prince Prospero castle, cut off from the world, which is struck by plague. Poe describes the placements of the windows, the rooms and the clock. The castle had seven rooms which represents the seven stages of life. Each of the room has a different color theme to it. Poe describes the color of each room, “The first room is blue, the second is purple, the third is green, fourth is orange, fifth is white, sixth is violet and the seventh is black with red drapes, and a clock in the center of the room that announces at the end of each hour.”…

    • 1173 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Masque Of The Red Death Symbolism Essay
    • 1565 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Masque Of The Red Death Symbolism Essay

    The story symbolizes the inevitability of death, and brings to reality the quote “you can run, but you can’t hide”. The colors presented in “Masque of the Red Death” play a huge role in this symbolism. They create the mood of the story, they represent the stages of life, and they highlight the horror of the last night of happiness. Overall, Edgar Allan Poe carefully depicts the use of colors in his story, and they will forever be recognized as allegorical genius in this iconic tale of greediness, power, and fate. Symbolism can be found in places high and low. Be sure to look closely, and one can reveal a meaning of something they never would have thought…

    • 1565 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More

Related Topics