Reviews with content warning for Death - The Masque of the Red Death

One of the most mystical and dreamlike of Poe's works, this story feels like a true ghost story and absolutely one of his more political stories akin to Hop-Frog. While not a man to shy away from moral parable in his writing the sheer force of nature of the Red Death hits a deep nerve when taken against the hedonistic nobles.

Content Warnings

rhiannon814r's review against another edition

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dark fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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leazzz's review against another edition

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dark tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? N/A
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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bookbelle5_17's review

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dark mysterious tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Review of the Masque of the Red Death

By: Edgar Allan Poe

The Red Death has come, and Prince Prospero has decided to transform his abbey home into a secure place where he and his friends can avoid getting infected. He throws a masquerade ball of debauchery and revelry, but the party is crashed by a figure wearing the mask of the Red Death.

The Masque of the Red Death is a macabre delight as Poe tells the story of the plague and how you cannot hide from death. The descriptions of Prince Prospero’s abbey home are a treat. Each room is a different color, and my favorite is Prince Prospero’s room which is described as blood red. Perhaps foreshadowing? Poe knows how to build suspense as The Masque of the Red stalks the guests, especially Prince Prospero himself. The story is intense and fear inducing as the reader anticipates The Red Death will get Prince Prospero and his friends.

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ambenicole418's review against another edition

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dark mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

One of my favorite Edgar Allan Poe stories! 😍💖

In this story, there is a deadly illness sweeping the country known as the Red Death, and so of course in true rich people fashion, Prince Prospero basically said, “Fuck the poor people. Let them die. Me on the other hand, I’m gonna invite a bunch of my rich friends to my castle where we’ll seclude ourselves inside, and party and drink until the plague ends”. Unfortunately, for him and his party guests, by the 5-6 month of their seclusion the personification of this deadly disease comes to remind them that they aren’t as invincible as they would like to believe and they are just as susceptible to this deadly illness as everyone else.

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