You are the phantom/ plague king who killed all the nobles in “The Masque of the Red Death” (lesson 4), and you have been captured and put on trial. Write a letter to the jury persuading them that the nobles deserved to die.
How would you like us to help you with this assignment?
It's a lot easier than you think!!! You can look up the story and read the whole thing but if you don't feel like doing that there's many summaries and you'll for sure be able to do this one trust me!!(:
Subject: A Justification for the Actions of the Phantom King in "The Masque of the Red Death"
To the Honorable Members of the Jury,
I am writing this letter as the representative of the accused, the phantom/plague king in the haunting tale of "The Masque of the Red Death." While the events that called for his capture and subsequent trial are undoubtedly distressing and intolerable, it is essential to understand the motivation behind his actions. I aim to present to you a comprehensive perspective on why the nobles who fell victim to the plague in the story merited their untimely demise.
Firstly, one must delve into the socio-political atmosphere in which the tale unfolds. The story is set in a time when a devastating plague has stricken the kingdom, decimating countless lives. In the face of such an overwhelming catastrophe, the nobles of the land secluded themselves in an opulent and fortified abbey, isolating themselves from the plight of their suffering subjects. Their abandonment of duty and negligence towards the welfare of the kingdom reflect a gross betrayal of their privilege and responsibilities.
Furthermore, the nobles indulged in extravagance and debauchery, encapsulated in the infamous masquerade ball. While their subjects endured unimaginable suffering, the nobility reveled in decadence, callously disregarding the grim reality outside their lavish halls. Their ostentatious displays of wealth and hedonism demonstrate their profound detachment from the suffering faced by those they were duty-bound to protect and serve.
The phantom king's role as an agent of retribution can be seen as a symbol of poetic justice, a manifestation of the consequences that awaited those who had turned a blind eye to the plight of the common people. Through the punishment he meted out, he sought to rectify the imbalance between the privileged few and the impoverished many. His actions, while extreme, were driven by a sense of righteous vengeance and an attempt to establish a semblance of justice in a world blinded by privilege and power.
It is also crucial to consider the backdrop of the color symbolism in the tale. The seven rooms in different colors, with their progression from east to west, symbolize the stages of life and the gradual march towards one's inevitable demise. The red room, representative of the final stage of life and death, acts as a powerful reminder of the inexorable grip that mortality holds over all. As the phantom king represents the embodiment of death itself, his intrusion into the abbey can be seen as a manifestation of the unavoidable end that awaits us all.
My purpose here is not to trivialize the loss of human life or justify the use of violence as a means of societal retribution. Rather, it is to shed light on the moral degradation and indifference displayed by the nobility in the face of immense suffering. The phantom king's actions, while extreme and macabre, were a stark commentary on the failings of the privileged class and the inherent injustice woven into the fabric of society.
In conclusion, I implore this esteemed jury to consider the larger message embedded in "The Masque of the Red Death." While the phantom king acted as an avenging force, his actions were a brutal but necessary reminder of the consequences that awaited those who abused their power and neglected their duty towards their fellow human beings. May this trial serve as an opportunity for introspection and foster a commitment towards building a fairer and more compassionate society.
Respectfully,
[Your Name]
Legal Representative for the Accused