The Masque of the Red Death

"The 'Red Death' had long devastated the country. No pestilence had ever been so fatal, or so hideous. Blood was its Avatar and its seal- the redness and the horror of blood" (Poe 171). These ominous words begin one of Edgar Allen Poe's most disturbing stories: "The Masque of the Red Death". This story takes place during a cholera epidemic that has killed many. Prince Prospero has invited over a thousand people to stay with him in his castle. After they have been safe inside for over 5 months, the Prince holds a masquerade ball. This masquerade ball is held within a suite of seven rooms, each with a different color scheme and colored glass window. The final room is hung with black velvet and has a scarlet window. Poe describes this chamber, saying:

But 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 that there were few of the company bold enough to set foot within its precincts at all. (Poe 175)

Also within this chamber, there is an ebony clock that chimes on the hour with such a distinctive sound that the orchestra stops playing and the dancers stop and listen. As the clock strokes midnight, the crowd is suddenly aware of a distinct presence among them. They see a man with a costume so horrible that they are revolted. Poe describes it:

The figure was tall and gaunt, and shrouded from head to foot in the habiliments of the grave. The mask which concealed the visage was made so nearly to resemble the countenance of a stiffened corpse (...) His vesture was dabbled in blood- and hisbroad brow, with all the features of the face, was besprinkled with the scarlet horror. (Poe 179)

The Prince chases the figure through six of the chambers to the final, black draped room. There, suddenly, the Prince drops dead. The party-goers seize the costumed man and remove his mask, but he turns out to be an inhuman form "untenanted by any tangible form" (Poe 182). Then, one by one, each of the party goers drops dead from the "Red Death". Poe ends the story with words as chilling as the opening, "And Darkness and Decay and the Red Death held illimitable dominion over all" (Poe 182).

This story relates to our theme of journeys in many ways. First of all, the ball takes place through 7 rooms. When Prince Prospero chases the unknown figure, his journey through the rooms symbolizes the journey towards his death. Also, the progression of the disease throughout society and the attempts of Prospero to avoid it could also be considered a journey. These are some of the ways that "The Masque of the Red Death" by Edgar Allen Poe relates to our Language Arts theme of journeys.

Poe, Edgar Allen. "The Masque of the Red Death". Eight Tales of Terror. Ed. John P. Roberts. New York: Scholastic Inc, 1978. 171-182.