The Masque of the Red Death

About “The Masque of the Red Death”

"The Masque of the Red Death" is a short story by Edgar Allan Poe, first published in 1842. The story follows Prince Prospero, who tries to escape a deadly plague called the Red Death by locking himself and other wealthy nobles in an abbey. They hold a masquerade ball in seven rooms, each decorated with a different color. A mysterious figure dressed as a Red Death victim enters and moves through the rooms. Prospero confronts the figure, but it has no physical form, and he dies. The guests also die one by one. The story was first published in Graham's Magazine in May 1842 and has been adapted into various forms, including a 1964 film starring Vincent Price. It has also influenced other works in different media.