The Red Death image haunts the reader through the short story, constantly leaving a haunting feeling of inevitable death. He had come like a thief in the night” (Poe 4). The author’s detailed portrayal of death attracts and simultaneously intimidates the reader, setting a frightful and ominous mood of the overall story: “And now was acknowledged the presence of the Red Death. The Red Death is one of Poe’s primary symbolist elements, which unmistakably is a representation of death. However, with no Poe’s elaboration on the symbolism, each reader is left to reckoning on the individual meaning, which induces mystical and somewhat anxious tones. For instance, black and blood-red rooms exemplify death and life intensity. Each reader may elaborate on their perception of the colors however, a common point of view is the representation of seven life stages, starting from birth to death. One of the most mysterious symbolist elements in the story describes the seven coloured rooms. The narration sets a mysterious tone, with Poe’s vivid imagery easily controlling the reader’s attention through suspense. Blood was its Avatar and its seal-the redness and the horror of blood” (Poe 1). No pestilence had ever been so fatal or so hideous. Indeed, the opening lines indulge a dreadful mood, followed by a permanent feeling of intimidation: The “Red Death” had long devastated the country. The tone of The Masque of Red Death starts to translate from a story’s title, anticipated to be dark and grievous.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |