ipl-logo

How Does Edgar Allan Poe's Use Of Allegory

1631 Words7 Pages

Poe would not give details like this to the reader if they did not have a significant meaning to the story. This shows that Poe was using the abbey as a form of time as well showing that no one can escape time, it is always there. Also, notice that Poe says “windings”, which references a clock winding and telling time. Poe’s use of allegory shown through time shows the reader that no one can escape death because it can come at any day, hour, minute, or second, no one knows. Poe also uses symbolism to depict the theme of death. He does this in three diverse ways. The first is with the rooms of the abbey and their colors. The colors of the rooms and the order they are in symbolize the stages of life leading to death or impending doom. The first …show more content…

The masked figure comes in just after the clock strikes midnight, signifying the end of a day and the start of a new one. At first the people are just chatting and murmuring about the new figure in that had just appeared, but when they realize what the figure is dressed like they are horrified by what they see. The figure is dressed up as the “Red Death.” Poe describes the figure as- “tall and gaunt, and shrouded from head to foot in the habiliments of the grave” (Poe 3). He then describes the mask, saying that it looks like a decaying corpse and that the figure is covered in blood coming out of the orifices in his face. The figure represents the “Red Death”, showing that death always comes no matter what. Prince Prospero is upset when he finds out that an unknown figure has disturbed his guests and party. The masked figure is standing in the black room (death) with the ebony clock (time), while the Prince is in the blue room (birth) yelling at figure, asking why he is here and that they need to leave. This shows that the figure is a characterological duplicate of both the black room and the ebony clock (Roth 2). The masked figure us a representation of both because the figure shows that time is up for the revelers and now it is time for them to die (death). This is also shows death can come at any moment no matter what the time or place. The Prince then becomes so enraged that he charges down the abbey to the figure with a knife to kill them, but before he even reaches the figure he falls dead, the “Red Death” claiming him. Next, the guests (having just witnessed their leader die) charge at the figure taking his mask off. After taking the mask off, what they find is horrific and has them gasping in horror. They gasp “in unutterable horror” at finding nothing within, nothing beneath- the clothing and mask are “untenanted by any tangible form” (Roth 2). Now the

Show More
Related
683 Words | 3 Pages

The entire reason for this party was to defend the king and all those close to him from it, but there is no escaping the disease. The text states, “His vesture-was dabbed in blood-and his brow, with all the features with all the feature of a face, was besprinkled with the scarlet horror” Poe, 425). The Red Death was a “walking corpse” looking figure that appeared out of nowhere during the course of the party; and how instantly makes his way toward the block room. All those who attended the shindig secretly feared the moving figure as it made its way to the room. The king did not stand for this so he planned to kill the figure, but yet the figure killed him.

Read More
695 Words | 3 Pages

Poe wrote in the “Masque of the Red Death,” “The scarlet stains upon the body and especially upon the face of the victim, were the pest ban which shut him out from the aid and from the sympathy of his fellow-men,” (Poe 1). It goes to show to what length people will go to survive. In “The Cask of Amontillado”, Montresor's cellar represented the embodiment of death

Read More
1174 Words | 5 Pages

Representing that the clock had run out and now it was time for everyone to die. The mass spread of the disease had entered the castle and there was nothing anyone could do to stop it. Time

Read More
600 Words | 3 Pages

This message is shown when the phantom kills the prince in the red room. Throughout the story Poe shows examples of how he reveals his hidden message. Edgar Allan Poe gives symbols and hints revealing a clue about what the message could be. The evidence given was the castle and clock that were used as symbols as well as interesting objects that appear before the “Red Death” came to play.

Read More
318 Words | 2 Pages

“The Masque of The Red Death” by, Edgar Allan Poe has many symbolic meanings throughout the story but the one that’s most influential is the “Ebony Clock”. Which plays a main role in the story. “The Masque of The Red Death” has many Symbolic meanings, but the Ebony Clock stands out the most as the revelers life is represented by the clock. The Ebony clock is very substantial as every second the clock ticks is less time the revelers have left. The text explains what the clock’s symbolic meaning is.

Read More
284 Words | 2 Pages

People can't escape death, or the scary thought of it. In the story, “Red Death”, a symbol to go along with the theme would be the black chamber. First of all, everyone at the masquerade goes in every other room except for the black room. They stay away because of the dark appearance, and the reminder that death is always right around the corner. Another reason is inside the chamber the glass windows are stained red, instead of black to go with the overall theme of the seven rooms.

Read More
362 Words | 2 Pages

On a symbolic level, these words describe the “Red Death” as a disease. Those who were vulnerable to it treated it as an intimidating force that had the power to kill. Furthermore, Poe uses symbolism when he describes the figure as resembling “the countenance of a stiffened corpse” (124). Poe helps the reader picture the figure

Read More
495 Words | 2 Pages

In Masque of the Red Death by Edgar Allen Poe, many symbols are used to justify the overall purpose and meaning of the story. These symbols include the ebony clock, the seven chambers, the scarlet and black room, and the Red Death itself. Each of these symbols help characterize the Prince and his guests, along with foreshadowing the overall outcome of the story. First of all, the seventh chamber and ebony clock not only provide a sense of eeriness, but reveal the underlying personalities and outcomes of the characters. For example, Zapf writes, “In the process of the story, of course, the seventh chamber more and more becomes the center of attention, and with it the clock of ebony which symbolizes the structure of temporality underlying and terminating all human

Read More
997 Words | 4 Pages

Edgar Allen Poe gradually increases the dread and fear throughout the novel until its climax. In the beginning of the story, the idea of wealthy nobility partying while their country deteriorates suggests that they will be eventually be punished by the “Red Death” himself. A very figurative quote from the story is, “a gigantic clock of ebony. Its pendulum swung to and fro with a dull, heavy, monotonous clang; and when the minute-hand made the circuit of the face, and the hour was to be stricken, there came from the brazen lungs of the clock a sound which was clear and loud and deep and exceedingly musical”. The clock in this short story represents a countdown, which is counting down to the death of Prince Prospero and the other party guests.

Read More
329 Words | 2 Pages

In the short story, "The Masque of the Red Death" by Edgar A. Poe entail various symbols that consist of: east and west, the ebony clock, the masked figure and Prince Prospero's castellated abbey. The overall allegorical message Poe establishes is that eventually everyone dies, even though they try to prevent death. East and West and Prince Prospero's castellated abbey signify in complexity of how they initiate Poe's usage of symbolism. The seven rooms in Prince Prospero's kingdom depicts the progression of life, by demonstrating it east and west. The text states,"...eastern extremity...in blue...second chamber was purple...third was green..

Read More
912 Words | 4 Pages

To enhance his allegory of death in “Masque of the Red Death,” Poe expresses a person should not dwell or fear their death through his portrayal of the clock, the mummer, and the tripods. Poe uses the clock to symbolize time passing. During the masquerade, Poe had a clock inside and every came with a more unsettled feeling. This is referenced multiple times throughout the story and the speaker

Read More
587 Words | 3 Pages

In Edgar Allan Poe’s short story, “The Masque of the Red Death,” the author strategically incorporates an ebony clock as a symbol to prove a strong idea. In this short story, there is a terrible plague going around that is taking an abundant amount of lives. Prince Prospero and his guests seclude themselves inside his castle and throw a party; However, an uninvited guest will soon show up and crash their masquerade. Poe uses the ebony clock to illustrate that death cannot be eluded. Initially, Poe introduces the ebony clock as very dark and mysterious, much like himself.

Read More
539 Words | 3 Pages

The theme of the inevitability of death can be supported with several symbols scattered in “The Masque of Red Death.” The story as a whole is an allegory, having double meanings in the plot --- in the literal and symbolic elements. The rooms in Prince Prospero’s house were seen as unique and peculiar by his guests, with odd turns and interesting designs. ”Prince Prospero entertained his thousand friends at a masked ball of the most unusual magnificence” (Poe

Read More
810 Words | 4 Pages

Despite the belief that one can live forever, death is certain. Edgar Allen Poe wrote his short story, “The Masque of the Red Death” with a greater meaning than simply the Red Death, or plague. He wrote this story, symbolizing the stages of life. In “The Masque of the Red Death”, Poe uses the symbols of the hallway, the rooms, and the braziers, to enhance the allegory, and to show how death is inevitable and one can not spend their life worrying about it.

Read More
918 Words | 4 Pages

“The Masque of the Red Death” is an allegory, symbolizing the journey from life to death, proving that death is inescapable for everyone. This is shown through the symbolism used by Poe, not only in characters,

Read More

More about How Does Edgar Allan Poe's Use Of Allegory

Related Topics

Open Document