The Masque of Red Death meets Seven Deadly Sins

Death Holds Dominion Over us ALL!
"And the last enemy to be destroyed is death." 1 Corinthians 15:26

The most widely accepted seven deadly sins by society through biblical teachings are Lust, Gluttony, Greed, Laziness, Wrath, Envy, and Pride. The use of the term "seven deadly sins" refer to the belief sin separates humanity from God and ultimately leads to spiritual death or eternal separation from God and more commonly known as Hell. Romans states "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord". By no means is this an extensive list of all sins, Proverbs reads "There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, and heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers".

The interpretation of the seven deadly sins and how they affect the relationship of humanity with God when broken has been at the top of spiritual debate for hundreds of years. Edgar Allen Poe's "The Masques of Red Death" has many examples of these seven deadly sins and it is very interesting to view through the lens of Marxist Critique. Lust is most commonly linked to the lust of the flesh or sexual lust; however it is also defined as "desire, pleasure, to be eager, wanton, or unruly". Poe's work says "The tastes of the duke were peculiar. He had a fine eye for colors and effects. He disregarded the Decora of mere fashion. His plans were bold and fiery, and his conceptions glowed with barbaric luster… There was much of the beautiful, much of the wanton, much of the bizarre". (Poe, p. 2)

Everything about the Prince's abbey, his decorations, possessions, clothing, dancing, and partying confirmed the lustful desires of the prince and his royal subjects. This goes to the heart of the Marxist theory of exploitation of proliferates by the bourgeois for the gain of their own wealth. It is the lustful desire of the rich and powerful to use the working-class to obtain and continuously build their economic superior class to the point of despicable lustful greed. On the flip side, the poor or working class have the wanton desire to do any and everything possible to dig their way up and out of their poverty; however the feudal system of the time set up by the bourgeois made it virtually impossible for the lower-class to every move up out of the poverty.

Gluttony and greed can be combined and defined as "excess in eating, drinking or greedy and excessive indulgence, and a selfish and excessive desire for more of something". Proverbs says "for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags". Poe describes the Prince's excessive indulgence like this: "It was toward the close of the fifth or sixth month of his seclusion, and while the pestilence raged most furiously abroad, that the Prince Prospero entertained his thousand friends at a masked ball of the most unusual magnificence". (Poe, p. 1) Though the Red Death plague is at its worst on the outside killing Prince Prospero's working-class within his kingdom he continues in his excessive indulgence inside the castle.

The prince has absolutely no regard or concern for the welfare of his poor people within his kingdom. He only cares about his self and the preservation of his newly created kingdom. Ephesians states " Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continuous lust for more". Prince Prospero's greed for wealth and power pushed him to create an excessive party atmosphere that ensures his subjects do not find the time to reflect on the horrible and selfish acts they have committed. Laziness are defined as "disinclined to the activity of exertion". Poe wrote: "This was an extensive and magnificent structure, the creation of the prince's own eccentric yet august taste. A strong and lofty wall girdled it in. This wall had gates of iron. The courtiers, having entered, brought furnaces and Massy hammers and welded the bolts."(Poe, p. 1) Everyone readily accepted that Prince Prospero created the elaborate environment they were entombed in and believed that he was responsible for the elaborate decorations and furnishings. Prince Prospero was not directly responsible for any of this. He never raised one finger; everything was done by his subjects, the working class. The bolts to the castle walls were wielded by them and every detail in the stronghold was a direct reflection of the hard work his subjects did for him every day.

Wrath is defined as: "a strong vengeful anger or indignation, retributive punishment for an offense or a crime". Poe composed: "his brow reddened with rage."Who dares?" He demanded hoarsely of the courtiers who stood near him --"who dares insult us with this blasphemous mockery? Seize him and unmask him --that we may know whom we have to hang at sunrise, from the battlements!"(Poe, p. 3) How ironic, all this time Prince Prospero had been mocking the Red Death now Death has had its revenge and brought mockery to Prince Prospero's protected refuge. Despite all his efforts to establish a perfect new kingdom; one that is supposed to be unbreakable and unable to be breached, death came nonetheless. At the height of his power, death proved that ultimately the prince had no power over death or the lower-class, because death was the great equalizer. In the end all humanity will succumb to the same fate; it does not matter if you are rich or poor.

Envy is "painful or resentful awareness of an advantage enjoyed by another joined with a desire to possess the same advantage". Prince Prospero envied the realization that he does not possess any true advantage over the lower-class. His exploration of the proliferates were all in vain. Proverbs says "A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot". The prince assumed that the secluded safe haven he created would give him an advantage over the Red Death, but he never did have an advantage; Death had the advantage all the time. Prince Prospero was full of the last of the seven deadly sins, pride. He was proud not only himself but also the kingdom that he alone created. He was proud of how he so cleverly fooled and outsmarted the Red Death. The proud and lazy powerful Prince Prospero filled with lust and greed envied the power of the Red Death and ability to infiltrate his beautiful kingdom and out mock his own mockery of death. At first he was afraid but then was overcome with rage which led to his demise. The fall of the prince was first, before all the subjects he held dominion over. In the end, the Red Death held dominion over them all.

by James Apple Jr.