The Prince, like many wealthy, royal or aristocratic people, believe that the plague is a disease of the poor or the masses of people who live in close quarters, in squalor. He feels separate from it, both physically and emotionally. There is some truth to the statement, during outbreaks of plague, there was nothing anyone could do to help those who were afflicted. It was tragic, really, because there was no medicine or treatment and it was highly contagious.
The fact that Prince Prospero has secluded himself in the country, away from the town and the infection, the disease, is normal behavior for someone of his stature. The folly in this statement refers to the uselessness of grieving for something that one has no control over, like death, especially death brought by the plague. The party is typical also of royal or rich people, enjoying life, while the poor and stricken suffer.
Poe is telling the reader a stark truth, death does indeed come for each of us, and no one knows when that time will come. The idea that Prince Prospero believed that he could escape the inevitable, is pure folly.
No comments:
Post a Comment