Does anyone know the what he #7 symbolizes in, "The Masque of the Red Death"?

-- Anonymous, November 06, 2003

Answers

Going with Shakespeare for the ages of man leading to death, the number of rooms progressing to the final end in the black room. Or Dante's medieval-biblical numerology which very generally means orderly completion, the number eight being super perfection orimmortality. Seven deadly sins another possiibility. You might sense that Poe's allusions are not only vague IF intended but that the allusions are not so important or obvious except for tone. Allegory is not a primary goal nor the symbols a clever display in themselves- but there they are and very richly and organically woven into the story.

This Prospero, like the magical ruler of "The Tempest" struggles to create his own refuge or universe- the opposite of Poe's in being natural, wise and an island not a castellated cave.

-- Anonymous, November 06, 2003

the prince tried to escape the red death right by enlocking himself in some kind of underground cellar. when he is running trying to catch the masque of red death he goes through the 7 different colored apartments. the changes of the color symbolize the 7 stages of the red death which was a plague

-- Anonymous, October 25, 2004