Paragraph Response The theme of the Masque of the Red Death by Edgar Allen Poe concerns life and

death and the powerlessness of humans to evade the grip of death. No matter how beautiful the castle, how luxuriant the clothing, or how rich the food, no mortal, not even a prince, can escape death. The theme is illustrated through various symbols that Poe employs throughout the story. For example, the rooms of the palace, lined up in a series, represent the stages of life. The progression of the rooms show the life cycle of a day: the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, with night symbolizing death. The last, black room is used as the ominous endpoint, the room the guests fear just as they fear death. Another symbol is the clock that reminds the guests of deaths final judgment.