Examples Of Irony In The Masque Of The Red Death

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Have you ever heard the quote “you may delay, but time will not” by Benjamin Franklin? In “The Masque of the Red Death,” this is exactly the case. The story, about arrogance in power, time, and the inevitableness of death, takes place within Prince Prospero’s palace. As the prince secludes himself and several others from the rest of the kingdom, he attempts to avoid the horrible disease of the red death. At the prince’s party, seven rooms of the palace are decorated with different colors to symbolize the stages of life. Prince Prospero enters the black room, which represents death, in attempt to confront a guest and there his life ends. “The Masque of the Red Death” has several points of irony throughout the story. The name of the main character, his power and fame, and the inequality present within the people are all examples of irony throughout the story. …show more content…
The name “Prospero” appears to represent financial prosperity or having a prosperousness life. The prince’s life is in fact, so prosperous, that he uses it to his advantage. His wealth and power allow him to close the gates of his palace and avoid the rest of the kingdom, intending to ultimately avoid the plague of the red death. “But the Prince Prospero was happy and dauntless and sagacious.” The fact that he is described as “dauntless” and “sagacious” in the story is ironic due to his fate. Eventually, Prospero finds out that although he is fearless, wise, and prosperous, he cannot be

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