What Is The Ebony Clock Symbolize In The Masque Of The Red Death

In, “The Masque Of The Red Death,” Edgar Allan Poe using many different symbols to represent the meanings of death and wonder. He using the wood clock, the seven different rooms, the windows with the fire, and the gate outside to all show and symbolize mystery. In the story Poe using all different types of things to expose mystery, death, and blood. The ebony clock that is located in the black room on the far wall. The ebony clock is used to show mortality and that no one is mortal. It also symbolizes the time of death is coming for everyone. Yet no one actually realizes that they are going to die, they all think that they are safe from the red death. Which also shows irony to the situation because they all end up dead from the red death. Every hour the clock would chime and everyone would stop what they are doing and watch the clock chime every hour. The dancers, attendants, and servers would stop and wait. The next item Poe uses to symbolize something is the rooms.

They go through all the rooms with all the colors and drapes. The guest throughout the night walk through each room until they hit the black room. They start with blue, then goes to purple, next is green, then orange, white, violet, and then finally black. The only thing different was in each room besides the seventh had the same things in it, drapes, a couple windows with fires on the outside, a door, and chairs. All except the seventh room with had black walls with red drapes and window panes. The seventh room also had the ebony clock. The rooms represent death and awaiting the death to come. The next symbol Poe uses to symbolize is the gate outside of Prince Prosperos