Give three details that Poe presents to reinforce the story's atmosphere.
The story pits Prince Prospero and his courtiers against the Red Death. What do you think each side symbolizes?
In Edgar Allan Poe's "The Masque of the Red Death," the author uses various details to reinforce the story's dark and eerie atmosphere. Three examples are:
1. The description of the Red Death plague: Poe describes the symptoms of the Red Death as gruesome and horrifying, causing "sharp pains, and sudden dizziness, and then profuse bleeding at the pores, with dissolution," eventually leading to death within "half an hour." This terrifying description sets the tone for the entire story, creating an atmosphere of imminent doom and dread.
2. The setting of the abbey: The abbey in which Prince Prospero and his guests seclude themselves is described as being heavily fortified and secluded, with "gates of iron" and "sharp precipices" to keep the outside world at bay. This sense of isolation lends an eerie, claustrophobic atmosphere to the story, as the characters are trapped within the confines of the supposedly safe haven.
3. The layout and decoration of the seven rooms: The rooms in which the masquerade takes place are arranged in a way that disorients the guests, particularly when they reach the black and red seventh room. The arrangement of the rooms, along with the grotesque and macabre decorations featuring "phantasmagoric" images, creates a sense of unease and even terror among the guests, further contributing to the story's dark atmosphere.
In "The Masque of the Red Death," Prince Prospero and his courtiers symbolize the arrogance and hedonism of the wealthy and privileged, who believe they can escape the inevitability of death and suffering by isolating themselves in a luxurious sanctuary. They indulge in lavish parties and entertainment, ignoring the suffering of the rest of the population afflicted by the Red Death.
On the other hand, the Red Death itself symbolizes the inescapable nature of death and the ultimate equalizer of all humans, regardless of their social status or wealth. No matter how hard Prince Prospero tries to keep death out, it is ultimately unavoidable, as shown by the appearance of the mysterious figure at the masquerade and the eventual deaths of all the characters. Through the conflict between the prince and the Red Death, Poe illustrates the futility of attempts to escape mortality and the ultimate power of death over everything else.