I think that Poe's short story is an excellent example of "art immitating life". Poe's life was a series of ups, downs, disappointments and death. According to our textbook, he was orphaned at the tender age of two. He was kicked out of West Point and disowned by his father. However, Poe went on to become a successful writer. He knew that it didn't matter whether you were rich or poor, that death would rest his presence upon your abode. He wrote that the castle had seven rooms,and the last room was very dreary, symbolizing death. Within the last room, when the fire was lit, the tapestries resembled the color of blood. He also used the "ebony" clock as a reminder that no one is safe from doom and gloom. When the clock chimed, the Princes' guest would be reminded that the plaque still existed and that even though they were inside the walls of the castle, death could still find them.
As far as symbolism some things are quite obvious and others are not. I think the use of the tall black blood soaked figure was obviously death or at least the plague itself. So, if the tall figure was the actual plague then the black room with the bright fire had to be death. The clock was a reminder that everything is not happy and as well as it seems, also i believe it was a countdown to the demise of the whole party. The red windows in the princes personal chambers could have been just a reminder to himself that even though this party is going on there are very serious things happening outside of the walls of his castle. The moral of the story is that death is blind and does not care who you are, how much money you have, or how old you are when it's your time death will come and death will prevail
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I think that Poe's short story is an excellent example of "art immitating life". Poe's life was a series of ups, downs, disappointments and death. According to our textbook, he was orphaned at the tender age of two. He was kicked out of West Point and disowned by his father. However, Poe went on to become a successful writer. He knew that it didn't matter whether you were rich or poor, that death would rest his presence upon your abode. He wrote that the castle had seven rooms,and the last room was very dreary, symbolizing death. Within the last room, when the fire was lit, the tapestries resembled the color of blood. He also used the "ebony" clock as a reminder that no one is safe from doom and gloom. When the clock chimed, the Princes' guest would be reminded that the plaque still existed and that even though they were inside the walls of the castle, death could still find them.
As far as symbolism some things are quite obvious and others are not. I think the use of the tall black blood soaked figure was obviously death or at least the plague itself. So, if the tall figure was the actual plague then the black room with the bright fire had to be death. The clock was a reminder that everything is not happy and as well as it seems, also i believe it was a countdown to the demise of the whole party. The red windows in the princes personal chambers could have been just a reminder to himself that even though this party is going on there are very serious things happening outside of the walls of his castle. The moral of the story is that death is blind and does not care who you are, how much money you have, or how old you are when it's your time death will come and death will prevail
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