The Masque of the Red Death

Style and Technique

Edgar Allan Poe's «The Masque of the Red Death» is characterized by a Gothic style, rich with an atmosphere of horror and inevitability. The author uses symbolism and allegory to convey themes of death and the futility of human efforts to avoid it. The language of the story is rich and sophisticated, with the use of archaisms and complex syntactic structures, creating the feel of an ancient tale or legend. Poe masterfully employs color symbolism, describing the seven rooms of the castle, each with its own color symbolizing stages of life. The story's structure is linear, with a gradual buildup of tension, culminating in the appearance of the mysterious figure in the red mask. Literary devices such as repetition, metaphors, and contrasts enhance the drama and emotional impact on the reader. The story concludes with an unexpected ending, highlighting the inevitability of death and the futility of trying to hide from it.