Death Evasion

          Can death be escaped or prolonged because a person is wealthy? I feel the financial prosperity of a person does not entail a long life. Author and poet Edgar Allen Poe felt the same way and explained this in his short story "The Masque of the Red Death". In fact in this story "The Masque of the Red Death" he used a clock, a character named Prince Prospero, and a character named Red Death as symbolism to convey a message that death can not be escaped because a person is wealthy.

          The first item Poe used to demonstrate his message was a clock. He brought this apparatus into the picture about mid-story when he was describing all the lavish decorations of the corridors in which the wealthy people were attending so they could get away from the bubonic plague that threatened their land. Poe says "While the chimes of the clock yet rang, it was observed that the giddiest grew pale, and the more aged and sedate passed their hands over their brows as if in confused reverie or meditation" (370-371). I feel Poe was trying to show how intoxicating parties can be because he says ".... as in confused reverie or meditation". I also feel he is trying to show us the doubt the prosperous people felt even though they were at this party safe from the Red Death who was outside. The fact that the music stopped and "....the giddiest grew pale" as if in fear that the party was going to end because in theory when the music stops at the party then the party was over and they would have to go outside and face what they had went to the party to escape from. This shows that even though the prosperous people thought they could escape death they still were not entirely sure. Also when the music stopped they just waved off their previous feelings as if nothing happened. I feel Poe used this as his first foreshadow to how they still could not escape the Red Death. The clock was not the only symbol Poe uses to convey his message though.

          The next symbol Poe uses to demonstrate his message is Prince Prospero. Prince Prospero is a rich prince throwing a party so him and the other wealthy people can attend so they may all escape the Red Death. The prince is the main character Poe uses to demonstrate the wealthy trying to evade fate and death. Poe says "But the Prince Prospero was happy and dauntless and sagacious. When his dominions were half depopulated, he summoned to his presence a thousand hale and light hearted friends from among the knights and dames of his court......" (369). Then Poe goes on to say "All these and the security were within. Without was the "Red Death"" (369). This shows that the prince believed he could stop Death from striking by leaving it outside the protection of his castle walls. I fell Poe is trying to say that some wealthy people think they are safe just because they have money and other luxurious things to hide behind just like in this story. I also feel he is trying to tell the reader that just because a person is ,in this case, partying and pretending whats going on is not happening does not make it any less real. He uses other symbols to portray this also.

          Last but not least Poe uses his main character "Red Death" to better give us a visual of his message. This entire story is based on the Red Death and or the Bubonic Plague but Poe puts a turn to it and creates a character that is the Red Death personified. Poe states "And now was acknowledged the presence of the Red Death. He had come like a thief in the night. And one by one dropped the revelers in the blood-bedewed halls of their revel, and died each in the despairing posture of his fall" (374). This is the biggest statement, I feel, Poe uses to show that death cannot be either avoided or evaded. Poe says that it ".....came like a thief in the night" and here he is talking about death. He is saying that a person might not be able to tell when death is going to come just like you might not be able to predict when you are about to get robbed. This quote here is evidence that Poe is trying to show us that death is unpredictable even for the wealthy.

          Poe uses symbolism to show that death can not be evaded even if a person id wealthy. I feel that no death cannot be escaped or prolonged because of a person's financial prosperity. I feel Poe is trying to show the wealthy they need to stop ignoring their surrounding problems and hiding behind their money because in the end things catch up with people. I feel if the wealthy did this then some of the problems this world has today would either be non-existent or not as bad. I feel everyone can learn something from Poe's message even though it is mostly intended for those who have great amounts of money. If we all stop hiding behind things then we will all be very prosperous and not necessarily just in money, but in everything we do.