Final answer:
The theme of "The Masque of the Red Death" is that wealth or power offers no refuge from the inevitable death, highlighting death as the great equalizer.
Step-by-step explanation:
The theme of "The Masque of the Red Death" by Edgar Allan Poe is that wealth or power offers no refuge from death. In this narrative, a prince tries to avoid the plague by isolating himself and his nobles in an opulent abbey, but ultimately, they all fall victim to the Red Death. The text illustrates that no matter one's rank or possessions, death is the great equalizer, and no amount of human contrivance can prevent its arrival. This central theme is echoed across various Poe works and other literary texts, suggesting a universal truth about the human condition and the inevitability of death.