Masque Of The Red Death

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Edgar Allan Poe is well known for writing eerie stories with deeper hidden messages. In his short story, “The Masque of the Red Death,” Poe refers to a prince named Prospero who went to great lengths to protect himself from the red death disease that was plaguing the nation. Ultimately, being overly cautious resulted in the death of Prospero. Similarly, Poe wrote a story titled “Hop-Frog” where a creature named Hop-Frog sought revenge on a selfish king. The story ended with Hop-Frog succeeding in killing the king. Using an assortment of writing devices, including foreshadowing, symbolism and irony, Poe relays his message that death is unpredictable and can strike at any time; even when everything appears to be going right. One literary …show more content…
During “The Masque of the Red Death,” an apparent symbol is an ebony clock that is displayed in the seventh room of the castle. Poe explains, “...and, while the chimes of the clock yet rang, it was observed that the giddiest grew place…” (Poe,”Masque”). Poe writes about the ebony clock to symbolize the amount of time the citizens have left until they die. It is shown that whenever the clock chimes, everyone becomes fearful of something they are unaware of. Once the clock stops chiming, everyone resumes the night's events. Symbolism in this story helps the reader to understand the main message of the uncertainty of death. Everyone knows the clock represents something bad, but they are trying to avoid whatever it might be. As the clock continues to countdown, everyone remains unaware of when exactly death will strike. Poe uses this symbol to give information to the reader that allows them to understand the main message he is trying to express. After the Red Death kills everyone, the clock gives out. This further confirms the idea that the ebony clock represents mortality. At the end of the story “Hop-Frog,” everyone attends a masquerade ball. Later, the king and his seven ministers get tied together in chains as part of Hop-Frog’s last jester. Poe writes, “Hop-Frog passed the residue of the chain in two diameters, at right angles, across the circle, after the fashion …show more content…
At the beginning of the story “The Masque of the Red Death,” Prince Prospero went through a lot of preparation to build a defense for his castle. Near the end of the story, the strongly built castle walls lead to the death of Prince Prospero and all of his citizens. Poe includes “And 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, “Masque”). By including these details, Poe creates irony in the situation. Prince Prospero worked so hard to protect the castle and make it so no one could get inside. Ultimately, making the castle defense remarkably complex made it impossible for anyone to escape once the Red Death arrived. This is ironic because Prince Prospero had expected the danger to be outside the castle, not inside. Also, this literary device helps to build the main idea that death is unforeseeable. Using irony is a way for the reader to clearly understand how no one was expecting death to happen during this time. Throughout the story “Hop-Frog,” the king is very controlling of Hop-Frog and Trippetta. At the end of the story, the tables are turned, and Hop-Frog is the one that controls the king’s fate. Poe writes, “They are a great king and his seven privy-councillors, -- a king who does not scruple to strike a defenceless girl and his seven councillors who abet him in the outrage. As for myself, I am simply Hop-Frog,
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