The Masque

"The Masque" typically refers to "The Masque of the Red Death," a short story by Edgar Allan Poe. It symbolizes how, despite efforts to ignore or escape deadly reality—represented by a lavish masked gathering—death is inevitable and impartial. The characters, in their wealth and masks, try to conceal vulnerability, but ultimately, the Red Death infiltrates their refuge. The story highlights themes of mortality, the futility of denial, and the inescapable nature of death, reminding us that no wealth or concealment can escape our mortality.