Difference between revisions of "The Masque of the Red Death"
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+ | [[Image:Masque of the Red Death, The - Abigail Larson.jpg|thumb|256x256px|Illustration by Abigail Larson.]] | ||
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'''''The Masque of the Red Death''''' is a short story written by [[Edgar Allan Poe]] and first published in 1842. It tells the tale of a prince who locks himself and all his friends behind the walls of an abbey to avoid becoming infected by a plague known as the red death. | '''''The Masque of the Red Death''''' is a short story written by [[Edgar Allan Poe]] and first published in 1842. It tells the tale of a prince who locks himself and all his friends behind the walls of an abbey to avoid becoming infected by a plague known as the red death. | ||
+ | ==Personal== | ||
I first read this story on 2017-11-14 as part of my goal to better familiarize myself with classic authors. | I first read this story on 2017-11-14 as part of my goal to better familiarize myself with classic authors. | ||
==Status== | ==Status== | ||
− | I do not own | + | This story is in the public domain. I do not own a physical copy, but I have listened to an audio book. |
==Review== | ==Review== | ||
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* Overall, I found the story to be kind of dull and predictable. The moment I read that the prince was trying to weather the plague by locking himself and his friends in an abbey, I knew they were all going to become infected, although I have to admit, the stranger in the masque is a nice touch. | * Overall, I found the story to be kind of dull and predictable. The moment I read that the prince was trying to weather the plague by locking himself and his friends in an abbey, I knew they were all going to become infected, although I have to admit, the stranger in the masque is a nice touch. | ||
* I don't get how the prince dies in the end. Is it simply from attempting to touch the ghostly form? | * I don't get how the prince dies in the end. Is it simply from attempting to touch the ghostly form? | ||
− | * I'm assuming Poe was trying to teach a moral lesson by punishing the wealthy prince for thinking he was above the plague and partying while everyone else was dying, rather than use his wealth to research a cure or treatment or at least be humbly | + | * I'm assuming Poe was trying to teach a moral lesson by punishing the wealthy prince for thinking he was above the plague and partying while everyone else was dying, rather than use his wealth to research a cure or treatment or at least be humbly thoughtful for his relative safety. However, holing up to prevent becoming infected is a wise decision. |
===Ugly=== | ===Ugly=== | ||
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Masque of the Red Death, The - Jeff Davis.jpg|Illustration by Jeff Davis. Mixes in a seven deadly sins theme. | Masque of the Red Death, The - Jeff Davis.jpg|Illustration by Jeff Davis. Mixes in a seven deadly sins theme. | ||
Masque of the Red Death, The - Somniferum.jpg|Illustration by Somniferum. | Masque of the Red Death, The - Somniferum.jpg|Illustration by Somniferum. | ||
− | |||
Masque of the Red Death, The - Nahrin Sarkisova.jpg|Illustration by Nahrin Sarkisova. | Masque of the Red Death, The - Nahrin Sarkisova.jpg|Illustration by Nahrin Sarkisova. | ||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
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[[Category: Media Theme - Horror|Masque of the Red Death, The]] | [[Category: Media Theme - Horror|Masque of the Red Death, The]] | ||
[[Category: Books I've Read|Masque of the Red Death, The]] | [[Category: Books I've Read|Masque of the Red Death, The]] | ||
+ | [[Category: Public Domain|Masque of the Red Death, The]] | ||
+ | [[Category: Books That Fail the Bechdel Test|Masque of the Red Death, The]] |
Revision as of 16:40, 28 April 2020
The Masque of the Red Death is a short story written by Edgar Allan Poe and first published in 1842. It tells the tale of a prince who locks himself and all his friends behind the walls of an abbey to avoid becoming infected by a plague known as the red death.
Personal
I first read this story on 2017-11-14 as part of my goal to better familiarize myself with classic authors.
Status
This story is in the public domain. I do not own a physical copy, but I have listened to an audio book.
Review
— This section contains spoilers! —
Good
- The masquerader in the red death plague is a pretty interesting character.
- The story has a pretty creepy plot.
Bad
- Overall, I found the story to be kind of dull and predictable. The moment I read that the prince was trying to weather the plague by locking himself and his friends in an abbey, I knew they were all going to become infected, although I have to admit, the stranger in the masque is a nice touch.
- I don't get how the prince dies in the end. Is it simply from attempting to touch the ghostly form?
- I'm assuming Poe was trying to teach a moral lesson by punishing the wealthy prince for thinking he was above the plague and partying while everyone else was dying, rather than use his wealth to research a cure or treatment or at least be humbly thoughtful for his relative safety. However, holing up to prevent becoming infected is a wise decision.
Ugly
- Nothing.