The Masque o the Red Death Essay - 558 Words

nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Edgar Allen Poes The Masque of the Red Death is an elaborate allegory/microcosm that combines objects in the story with visual descriptions to give focus to the readers imagination. In the story, a prince named Prospero tries to dodge the Red Death through isolation and seclusion. He hides behind seemingly impenetrable walls of his castellated abbey and lets the world take care of its own. However, no walls can stop death because it is inescapable and inevitable. Visual descriptions in the story are used to symbolize death. Poes use of language and symbolism is shown in his description of the seventh room in the suite, the ebony clock, and the fire. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The first symbolic mean†¦show more content†¦However, in the western or black chamber the effect of the firelight 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...quot;The fire was meant to produce a shadowy atmosphere in the west and a favorable one in the east. This is symbolic to the sunrise in the east and sunset in the west because light means life and darkness means death. Poe uses darkness as another visual representation of death. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The gigantic clock of ebony is another symbolic object in the story. quot;Its pendulum swung to and fro with a dull, heavy, monotonous clang; and when the minute hand made the circuit...it was observed that the giddiest turned pale, and the more aged and sedate passed their hands over their brows as if in confused reverie or meditationquot;. Hour by hour, minute by minute, second by second, the life of the ebony clock slowly dies. Poe uses the clock as a symbolic mean that man can escape death, but at the end it is inescapable. The ebony clock is a reminder to Prince Prospero and his guests of their remaining time before death. Poes description of the clocks chimes is successful as a constant reminder of their death. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; Prince Prospero’s efforts of avoid the epidemic is unsuccessful because death will eventually conquer all who oppose. 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