What is the theme of the masque of the red death?

"The Masque of the Red Death" by Edgar Allan Poe is a Gothic short story that explores the themes of death, mortality, and the inevitability of fate. The story is set during a devastating plague known as the Red Death, which causes its victims to suffer from sharp pains and profuse bleeding before dying within half an hour.

The main theme of the story is the inevitability of death and the futility of trying to escape it. The wealthy and privileged Prince Prospero builds a secluded abbey to protect himself and his courtiers from the Red Death, holding extravagant masquerade balls within its walls. Despite their attempts to shut out the outside world and ignore the suffering of the common people, the Red Death eventually makes its way inside the abbey, leading to the demise of all those inside.

Through the character of Prince Prospero and his elaborate masquerades, Poe explores the idea that death is a universal and inescapable part of life, regardless of one's wealth or social status. The story serves as a reminder of the fleeting nature of life and the inevitability of mortality, emphasizing the point that death comes for us all, regardless of our attempts to evade it.