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Geralynn Mendoza

Woelke

Pre-AP English 9

07 November 2018

“The Masque of the Red Death”

Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Masque of the Red Death” is an allegory about a foolish prince

trying to escape the inevitable death those in his kingdom are facing. The author uses 3 essential

symbols to carry out the story: the 7 rooms, the masked figure, and the clock. By using

symbolism such as the clock, the seventh room, and masked figure along with visual imagery

Poe is able to portray the Bubonic Plague through a simple story with deeper meaning.

In attempts to escape from the death spreading throughout his kingdom, Prince Prospero

decided to host a mascarade for the upperclassmen in the abbey. The mascarade took place

within seven rooms varying in color and decoration. Each room had a designated color and

represented the progression of the day and life as they continued from East to West like the

travels of the sun. The most important room was seventh and final room. When describing the

last room Poe explains that the “ effect of the fire-light that streamed upon the dark hangings

through the blood-tinted panes, was ghastly in the extreme, and produced so wild a look upon the

countenances of those who entered,” emitting such fear and uncertainty into the guests “that

there were few of the company bold enough to set foot within its precincts at all” (Poe 2).

causing them to distance themselves from that chamber. The aura of this room gives off an

unsettling feeling throughout the crowd as it so deeply contrasted the other lighter and brighter
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chambers. This suite represents the end of the day and death itself with its scarlet windows

embodying the blood, pain, fear, and suffering encountered by those who were plagued. The fact

that guests don’t enter the black room further presents the strongly felt fear of death. The seventh

room is also where the final deaths take place, “when the latter, having attained the extremity of

the velvet apartment, turned suddenly and confronted his [the masked figure’s] pursuer. There

was a sharp cry- and the dagger dropped gleaming upon the sable carpet, upon which, instantly

afterwards, fell prostrate in death the Prince Prospero” (Poe 4). This further demonstrates the

room’s affiliation with death as the prince is unable to escape his doom and follows the masked

figure straight into death. From this final encounter in the room, it is confirmed that it is the room

of death as it is the only area in the abbey to have had deaths occur inside of. The black room is

representative of death, suffering, and the end of the day and life with it.

A tall ebony clock stood against the wall in the Seventh room and as it struck every hour

the tension and fear grew within the people gathered. This visible after the first time it struck as

“from the brazen lungs of the clock a sound which was clear and loud and deep and exceedingly

musical, but of so peculiar a note and emphasis that, at each lapse of an hour, the musicians of

the orchestra were constrained to pause, momentarily, in their performance, to harken to the

sound… and there was a brief disconcert of the whole gay company” (Poe 2). The discomfort

and anxiety flooded through the company as the chilling sound of the clock echoed. The clock is

meant to symbolize the constant and inescapable passing of time this is evident as the “pendulum

swung to and fro with a dull, heavy, monotonous clang”(Poe 2). This is a prominent idea as the

continuous sound is a reminder that their glee doesn’t stop time and their joy will eventually

come to an end. The effect of the clock on the company is displayed once again after the first
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hour is struck as “the giddiest grew pale, and the more aged and sedated passed their hands over

their brows as if in confused revery or meditation” (Poe 2). This is used to show how the older

guests were running out of time and nearing their deaths. The symbolism of the clock counting

down the time left of life is further emphasized by the fact that “the life of the ebony clock went

out with that of the last of the gay” (Poe 5). meaning as the final life was taken the chime of the

clock had died with it representing the end of all life in the abbey. Through the symbolism of this

clock, the fear of death and passing of time becomes more evident.

A mysterious masked figure is discovered at the strike of midnight. This character

embodies the deadly plague that has snuck up on the people of the kingdom. As he first goes

unnoticed all is well and gleeful but once he is acknowledged after the chiming of the clock

many break into panic. When everyone is aware of him they realize he had snuck in “ like a thief

in the night.” and he brought with him the power of death and upon looking at him “one by one

dropped the revellers in the blood-bedewed halls of their revel, and died each in the despairing

posture of his fall” (Poe 5). This character was meant to look like one diseased with the “red

death” or black plague so he appeared to be “dabbled in blood- and his broad brow, with all the

features of the face, was besprinkled with the scarlet horror” (Poe 4), to represent the bloody

sores that developed on the bodies of those suffering from the plague. To the filled room this

view was terrifying and horrific at the least. By describing the reactions of those who attened the

masquerade to the masked figue Poe was able to portray the shock and terror expierenced by

those who encountered the plague.

Within this short story, symbolism was created by Edgar Allen Poe from analyzing

simple objects such as a clock, rooms, and a costume and placing deeper meanings behind them.
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With vivid visual imagery, the black plague that dominated Europe was brought to life and

embodied. From the clock, the fear of the constant continuing of time is emphasized greatly.

With the use of the seventh room, Poe is able to portray darkness and pain of death. The Bubonic

Plague is portrayed by the masked figure with its unexpected arrival and bloody appearance.

Through the use of the seventh room, clock, and masked figure, 3 essential symbols, Poe is able

to convey the passing of time and the progression of the Bubonic Plague.