Final answer:
The dream-like costumes in "The Masque of the Red Death" symbolize carefree glamour and luxury, echoing artistic themes during the Black Death and highlighting the contrast between wealth's escapism and the inevitability of death.
Step-by-step explanation:
The dream-like costumes of the revelers in "The Masque of the Red Death" are rich in symbolic meaning, representing much more than mere festive attire. They symbolize carefree glamour and luxury, a theme that runs counter to the horror of the Red Death lurking at the periphery of the story.
This portrayal is reminiscent of the artistic responses to the Black Death, where visual arts explored themes of mortality and salvation while also serving as reminders to enjoy life despite the shadow of death. The use of masks in the story can be traced back to ancient Greek tragedies where they were used to differentiate characters and had cultural significance. In the context of Poe's story, they allow characters to hide their true selves and indulge in the escapism that wealth and status afford them, even as death draws near.
Through this symbolism, Edgar Allan Poe contrasts the false sense of security that wealth and opulence provide against the inexorable and leveling force of death, demonstrating that no social status can provide refuge from mortality. This juxtaposition serves to enhance the story's macabre atmosphere and embellishes its central theme: the futility of trying to escape the inevitable course of life and death.