The Masque of the Red Death is a short story by Edgar Allan Poe, first published in 1842. The story follows Prince Prospero, a wealthy nobleman, who attempts to hide from a dangerous plague, known as the Red Death, by throwing a lavish masquerade ball in his abbey. He invites many of his friends and courtiers to join him in his seclusion, and they spend their days in revelry and merriment. However, during the masquerade, a mysterious figure appears, dressed in a blood-splattered costume. The figure is the personification of the Red Death, and it proceeds to kill each of the guests in turn. In the end, the Prince is the only one left alive, and he realizes that death is inevitable and cannot be avoided. The story serves as a warning against the folly of attempting to escape death.
By Edgar Allan Poe · First published 1842 · Genre: Gothic Horror, Romanticism, Fantasy