The Masque of the Red Death

The masque of the bolshie final stage Literary summary A Look at imagination We continue our literary analysis of The fancy dress of the Red demolition by Edgar Allan Poe with a look at the natural imagery in the short bill. players slide 1 of 4 imaginativeness is the use of figurative or descriptive language to create a vivid mental picture. It involves at least one of the five sensessight, sound, touch, feel, taste. mental imagery in The masquerade party of the Red death is ghastly. slide 2 of 4 theoretical account of Imagery There were sharp pains, and sudden dizziness, and then plenteous bleeding at the pores, with dissolution.The vermilion stains upon the body and especially upon the face of the victim, were the gent ban which shut him out from the sympathy of his fellow men. (145). Senses Sight, Touch analytic thinking Poe establishes the mood and setting of the report with the vivid description of the Red Death. The passing play establishes the horror of the disease and explains why the leaf nodes would react to the farm animal stained trespasser at the end of the story. slide 3 of 4 Imagery in the 7th RoomExample of Imagery The seventh apartment was terminally shrouded in stark velvet tapestries that hung all over the ceiling and agglomerate the walls, falling in heavy folds upon the carpet of the same corporeal and hue (146). Senses Sight, Touch Analysis The oppressiveness of the 7th inhabit contrasts the gaiety of the previous six. The darkness of the room and the heaviness and darkness of the curtain symbolizes final stage. No wonder none of the guests aspiration to come near it. Note the pun on shroud. Example of Imagery The panes here were scarleta plentiful wile.In the corridors that followed the suite, in that location stood, diametral to each window, a heavy tripod, bearing a brazier of fire, that communicate its rays through the tinted glass and so glaringly illuminated the room. And thus were produce d a multitude of gaudy and fantastic appearances The effect of the firelight that streamed upon the dark hangings through the inception tinted panes was ghastly in the extreme (146-7) Senses Sight Analysis So frequently for peaceful death. The images created by the brazier of fire and blood tinted glass get around the room of death a ghastly appearance.The gaudy and fantastic appearances, the blood tinted panes, and the fire create an image of hell, hinting that perhaps the guests and the Prince fear non ripe the Red Death, but their eternal fate. slide 4 of 4 to a greater extent Examples Example of Imagery Its pendulum swung to and fro with a heavy unglamourous clang there came from the brazen lungs of the clock a sound which was clear and loud and deep and exceedingly musical (147). Senses Sound Analysis No wonder the musicians stop when this clock struck.Poe uses personificationbrazen lungsto emphasize the deepness of the heavy monotonous clang, a clang that serves as an hourly reminder to the guests that death is approaching. Example of Imagery The figure was tall and gaunt, and shrouded from head to foot in the habilments of the severe His vesture was dabed in blood and his broad brow, with all the features of the face was besprinkled with the scarlet horror. (149). Senses Sight Death The personified Red Death strikes fear and anger in the hearts of Prospero and his guests.Once the Red Death appears, it never leaves. Symbolism in The Masque of the Red Death Why are there seven suite in The Masque of the Red Death? Learn all that and much(prenominal) with this guide to symbolism. latest slide 1 of 6 Edgar Allan Poes The Masque of the Red Death should be studied at many takes (1) the literal level the literal level is a study of the events that actually take slur in the story (2) an allegorical level an allegory is a story in which the objects, characters, and events are symbolic of something grander in scale.In order to understand the story allegorically, one holds a firm understanding of symbols in The Masque of the Red Death. slide 2 of 6 Symbols Analysis The Red Death symbolizes the inevitableness of death. Although there is no specific disease with the exact symptoms exposit in the story, critics believe the diseases description has elements of tuberculosis, a disease which killed many of those close to Poe. It also brings forth memories of the Black Death which depopulated much of europium during the Middle Ages.The Castle represents mans efforts to prevent death. Regardless of wealth, social position, or popularity, death arrives as an uninvited guest. Prince Prospero symbolizes the end of feudalism. Prosperos inviting only wealthy knights and ladies to his castle at the expense of peasants and commoners represents the socioeconomic divide between landowners and peasants that existed during the feudalistic period. It is not concurrent that the Black Death, which carmineuced the number of worke rs, led to a demand for force and played an important role in ending feudalism in Europe.The Ebony Clock is a constant reminder of death and symbolizes the inevitability of it. The revelers could neither stop its pendulum from swinging nor could they prevent its ominous tones from dampering their enthusiasm. The Seven entourage represent the stages of life. More on this later. The Masqueraders symbolize all humans and gives creedence to the reading that the seven room represent the seven ages of man (covered further in the next section). slide 3 of 6 Color Symbolism colour play an important role in this storyRed The nigh obvious color symbolism in The Masque of the Red Death is in its title. Red symbolizes death and blood. The gruesome description of the Red Death gives the color a ghastly connotation, especially in light of the red window panes contained in the death room at the far westerly end of the imperial suite. Black/Ebony The seventh room was closely shrouded in black velvet tapestries that hung all over the ceiling and down the walls, falling in heavy folds upon a carpet of the same material and hue (146).This seventh room contains no light of any kindly and represents the darkness of death. In this room stands the ebony clock. Upon hearing its chimes the guests were reminded of death the giddiest grew pale, and the more aged and sedate passed their hands over their brows as if in complex reverie or meditation (147). Blue/Purple/Green/ orangish/White/Violet These are the colors of the first six rooms in the imperial suite. I will address them together insomuch that they represent a prism and therefore reflect a progression, loaning creedence to the understandation that the story is an allegory for life.This interpretation, however, is complicated by the fact that the color of Prosperos room do not occur in the same date as they do in a prism, possibly reflective of Prosperos writhe sense of fairness or an attempt by the author to fe lla particular colors with a specific period in life. Others interpret the 7 rooms in The Masque of the Red Death as a symbol of Prosperos indulgence in the seven deadly sins 1. self-esteem/Vanity Pride is the immoderate belief in ones own abilities, uniform to vanity, which is setting ones heart on things of little value.Prosperos belief that he is more powerful than death is a vivid demonstration of pride. 2. Envy It is ill-defined who the Prince might envy, but he sure is trying hard to mint someone. 3. Gluttony Gluttony is the act of consuming more than one is required. instead of using his wets to protect more people, something he is obligated to do as prince, he lavishes his guests with ample provisions and the appliances of pleasure. 4. Lust Lust is an excessive craving for the pleasures of the body, usually associated with sex. The era in which Poe wrote prohibited he verbalized or implicit description of sex, but what do you think was exit on at an anything g oes party? 5. Anger The Prince becomes angry with the uninvited guest and attacks it. 6. Greed Although it is apparent Prince Prospero shares his wealth with a thousand guests, he helps those who need it least and withholds his substance from those in need. 7. Sloth Sloth is the absence of work. The prince seems similar a hard worker his work, however, is on the physical realm not the spiritual realm. slide 6 of 6 What do you think they mean? If you have an alternate interpretation, let me know in the comments.