Final answer:
The flames in the tripods symbolize death and destruction in "The Masque of the Red Death."
Step-by-step explanation:
The flames in the tripods symbolize death and destruction in "The Masque of the Red Death.""The Masque of the Red Death" is a short story written by Edgar Allan Poe that explores themes of mortality and the inevitability of death. The flames in the tripods serve as a visual representation of this theme, as they burn brightly and consume everything in their path, much like death itself.