The Masque of the Red Death is a short story by Edgar Allan Poe, first published in 1842. It tells the tale of Prince Prospero, who tries to avoid a deadly plague known as the Red Death by isolating himself and a group of wealthy nobles inside a lavishly decorated abbey. To distract themselves from the horror outside, they throw a grand masquerade ball in a series of seven color-themed rooms. Each room is unique, with the final black room containing a large, ominous clock that stops everyone in their tracks each time it chimes.

As the party goes on, a mysterious, masked figure dressed as a victim of the Red Death appears, disturbing the revelers. Offended by the costume, Prince Prospero confronts the figure, only to fall dead. When others try to seize the intruder, they discover that there is no one beneath the costume—it is the Red Death itself. The story ends with the revelation that no one can escape death, no matter how wealthy or protected they believe themselves to be. Poe uses symbolism, rich imagery, and gothic elements to explore themes of mortality, denial, and the inevitability of fate.