The Masque of the Red Death by Edgar Allan Poe is a chilling allegory of fate, mortality, and the illusion of control. The story follows Prince Prospero, who, along with his wealthy courtiers, locks himself away in an opulent abbey to escape a devastating plague known as the Red Death. As they revel in their extravagant masquerade ball, a mysterious, shrouded figure appears, moving through the seven colored chambers of the abbey. When the prince confronts the intruder, the terrible truth is revealed—no wealth or power can shield one from death. With its rich symbolism and eerie atmosphere, *The Masque of the Red Death* is a haunting meditation on the inescapable nature of human mortality.
