The Masque of the Red Death

Published in 1842, Edgar Allan Poe's "The Mask of the Red Death" is a gothic allegorical tale set in the 15th century, where a plague called the Red Death spreads through a region. Prince Prospero attempts to evade the contagion by hosting a lavish masquerade in a secluded palace with seven uniquely decorated rooms, each illuminated by dim lighting. Tension builds as the story unfolds during a midnight event, culminating in the appearance of a mysterious, ominous figure. The story explores themes of inevitable mortality and the futility of trying to escape death.