Symbols In The Masque Of The Red Death

The Masque of the Red Death, written by Edgar Allan Poe, contains many symbols. All of the symbols affect Prince Prospero. Edgar Allan Poe makes it easy for the reader to find the symbols. Each symbols that Poe uses helps him convey his message. There are at least three symbols that are easy to identify. In Poe’s, The Masque of the Red Death, death is surrounding everyone because the Bubonic Plague, the clock striking a new hour, and the welded gate. The Bubonic Plague is a major symbol because of how deadly it was. It was killing everyone around them, and it did not matter how far you ran, because it was going to catch up to you. The appearance of the Bubonic Plague is described as: “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). The appearance of the Bubonic Plague was so gruesome, that there was blood everywhere and it was challenging to look at. Although the appearance of the Bubonic Plague was gruesome, the emotional effect of the Bubonic Plague was painful. There were many painful emotions during the Bubonic Plague because people lost their loved ones, and dealing with the pain of being ill. Many people had to deal with extraordinary sacrifices: “There were sharp pains, and sudden …show more content…
They are trapped in the house no matter what happens. Poe describes the welded gates by: “This wall had gates of iron. The courtiers, having entered, brought furnaces and massy hammers and welded the bolts” (Poe). The gates are made of iron, which makes it harder to break. Although the gates were made of iron, the gates served a purpose by keeping the people in the abbey. Poe describes the gates: “The abbey was amply provisioned. With such precautions the courtiers might bid defiance to contagion” (Poe). Edgar Allan Poe used many different types of techniques to help make the significance of the welded