Answer: The driving literary element of "The Masque of the Red Death" by Edgar Allan Poe is the use of symbolism. The Red Death symbolizes the inevitability of death and its ability to claim everyone, regardless of their social status or wealth. The prince's attempts to escape the Red Death by locking himself and his courtiers in a palace are symbolic of the futility of trying to evade death. The seven rooms of the palace, each painted a different color, symbolize the stages of life and death. The masquerade ball, where everyone is dressed in masks, symbolizes the fleeting nature of life and the illusion that one can hide from death. Ultimately, the Red Death finds its way into the palace, symbolizing the truth that death cannot be avoided. Through these symbols, Poe emphasizes the theme of the universality of death and the importance of accepting it.
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