The Mask of the Red DeathDeath is a natural thing. It is not uncommon for people to take extreme measures to avoid death. In recent years, famous people have even hired teams of doctors to try to ensure they don't die. Often, the extreme measures people take to avoid it ultimately lead to their downfall, and death always wins. The Masque of the Red Death is a short story written by the first American novelist Edgar Allan Poe. It presents the story of a man named Prince Prospero during the time when a horrible plague has contaminated his country. There are three main themes throughout the story. His madness during a time of despair causes his downfall, time continues to pass even with death, and death is inevitable no matter how rich and powerful you are. These are the themes presented in the story that lead to the loss of his life and that of the lives of his guests. Prince Prospero is said to have the health and prosperity of his kingdom as his number one priority. Isn't that the job of a prince? However, Prince Prospero is stupid and decides to throw a masked ball in the middle of a devastating epidemic. The Red Death was described as quickly deadly and hideous. The symptoms of the Red Death were sharp pain, heavy bleeding in the pores and dizziness on the body. This prompted Prince Prospero to exclude his fellow men. He chose 1,000 of his closest friends to lock up with him in the castle while this terrible disease killed his country. “Blood was its avatar and its seal: the redness and horror of blood.” (1). Due to its deadly nature, the Red Death had the potential to kill its victims in less than half an hour. Prince Prospero's arrogance towards the middle of paper will be your downfall, time continues even with death, and this death is inevitable. Poe does a wonderful job of interweaving these three themes throughout the story. It entertains its readers with a suspenseful and interesting story about Prince Prospero and his companions trying to avoid the Red Death. Prince Prospero shows his madness by throwing a ball. The clock in the dark room constantly reminded them that with each passing hour, people were dying outside the castle, but they still survived. The Red Death found the perfect moment to infiltrate Prince Prospero's palace, trapping him in his own cage. By the end of the story, readers realize that it doesn't matter what anyone else does; death will eventually take us all. No amount of money, extraordinary thing or person will save you from your impending future..