Final answer:
The corpse-like masquerader in 'The Masque of the Red Death' symbolizes death and the arrogance of the nobility in believing they can escape it. It reflects cultural and historical representations of death, reminding all of the inevitable, despite attempts to elude it. This echoes medieval and Greek traditions, emphasizing themes of mortality and vanity.
Step-by-step explanation:
The corpse-like masquerader in Edgar Allan Poe's The Masque of the Red Death symbolizes the inescapable reality of death, as well as the arrogance of the nobility in thinking they can avoid the consequences of a deadly plague. This character's appearance at the ball, which Prince Prospero has arranged to evade the Red Death plague, represents a macabre reminder of the eventual fate that awaits all, regardless of their attempts to hide or escape.
The imagery of the masquerader is deeply rooted in the historical and cultural associations with death, drawing parallels to the way medieval art depicted the omnipresence of death and to the ancient Greek practice of using masks in the theatre to convey different characters and themes.
Historically, the imagery of a dancing skeleton or a masked figure of death harks back to the psychological toll of the Black Death, where such representations were common. In Poe's story, the theme of fatalism is abundantly clear, as the masked figure brings the party to a halt, unmasking the illusion of safety and control that the nobles wrapped themselves in, just as the Greek tragedians presented varying roles through the use of masks.
The chilling presence of the masquerader at the ball also functions as a mirror image to the characters of Prospero and his guests, where the former's denial is reflected back with a grim reality. Through this character, Poe explores themes of mortality, the futility of trying to escape death, and the vanity of human endeavors.