Symbols in “The Masque of the Red Death”

"The Masque of the Red Death" is a Gothic-style story written by Edgar Allan Poe. In this story, numerous settings and details contain symbols. These symbols are extremely crucial because each one represents something and provides readers with much to ponder. For example, the red color represents blood, and the clock represents time, etc. Through these symbols, we can learn that the story teaches us that no matter whether we are rich or poor, we cannot avoid death. There are seven chambers in Prince Prospero's castellated abbey.

Each chamber is painted in a different color. The last chamber is described as "closely shrouded in black velvet tapestries that hung all over the ceiling and down the walls...The panes here were scarlet-- a deep blood color."(Poe,84).

The colors black and red represent death and blood, which is the symbol of the Red Death. The chamber that the guests fear is just like they fear death. This hints to readers that something about the Red Death will happen in the last chamber and leaves readers guessing about the outcome.

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Another symbol in the story is the gigantic clock made of ebony. This clock reminds all the guests how time flies because “the musicians of the orchestra were constrained to pause…” (Poe, 84).

It also represented the countdown to death, “And the life of the ebony clock went out with that of the last of the gay.”, which is the theme of the story: death is inevitable.(Poe,88) This symbol gives meaning to the story by highlighting the theme.

Symbols play an important role in writing because they make the story more mysterious and interesting. Readers can find out what the author wants to express without being told explicitly. It's a necessary way of writing a Gothic-style story. Symbols represent the theme and mind of the story, leaving readers with deep thoughts and something to ponder.