The story "The Masque of Red Death" and the poem "The City In the Sea", both written by Edgar Allen Poe have to do with death. Since these stories have to do with death, they are classified as macabres.
A verse in the poem says, "Lo! Death has reared himself a throne, in a strange city lying alone", this reminds me of the story because Prince Prospero builds himself a palace and secludes himself from the outer world because their is a plague going around that is killing everyone. This is an example from the text that supports this: "Prince Prospero summoned to his presence...friends from among the knights and dames of his court...to the deep seclusion of one of his castlelated abbeys." Another line that makes me think about the story is "While from a proud tower in the town, death looks gigantically down", it is similar to the story because this is probably what the Prince is feeling, since he is stuck in the palace and surrounding the palace on the outside is the deadly plague waiting to come in.
Illustration for Edgar Allan Poe's "The Masque of ...
Illustration by Aubrey Beardsley, 1894–1895
Portrait of Edgar Allen Poe (Maryland attorney gen...The poem has one verse that perfectly describes the story when the Red Death enters the palace: But lo, a stir is in the air The wave- there is a movement there As if the towers had thrust aside, In slightly sinking, the dull tide- As if their tops had feebly given A void within the filmy Heaven.
The waves have now a redder glow- The hours are breathing faint and low- And when, amid no earthly moans, Down, down that shall settle hence Hell, rising from a thousand thrones, Shall do it reverences.
In the story they describe the Red Death as: "The figure was tall and gaunt, and shrouded from head to foot in the habiliments of the grave." He is also described as: "His vesture was dabbed in blood and his brow was besprinkled with the scarlet horror." Also in the verse above they talk about the hours which are breathing faint and low, which is happening also in the story. These were the ways that I have found "The Masque of Red Death" and "The City In the Sea" alike from my point of view.
I think Edgar Allen Poe is very good at writing macabres. He has a way of writing that makes us want to read on, and keeps his stories scary till the end. This is why I think he is such a well known writer.
I think it is fun to be scared once in while because it makes your life more thrilling.
I think a person who has experienced being scared will be more cautious through his or her lifetime than one who has not. Being scared too much could cause mental problems, and stress. So to those of you who like to get scared too much I suggest you pick up a romance novel!!!!
Prince Prospero flees the Red Death. The Masque of...
City in the Sea