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Prince Prospero
The prince of an unnamed country and the story’s protagonist. Prospero is self-serving, wealthy, and pleased with his own power. He is so convinced of his ineffable control that he believes he has the ability to outsmart death and disease. When the story opens, Prospero invites his court to shelter with him in his estate so that they can all avoid the Red Death, a disease that is running unchecked through his kingdom. Prospero is known for his expensive and eccentric taste which is exemplified in his estate’s otherworldly and unconventional decor.
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The Mysterious Guest
The masked figure who arrives at Prospero's masquerade at the stroke of midnight. He is depicted as a tall, lithe figure dressed in a funeral shroud and a mask, which resembles a bloody corpse that has recently succumbed to the Red Death. Once he arrives, the inhabitants of the estate all die almost instantly. The mysterious guest is the personification of the Red Death and represents the inevitability of mortality.
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The 1,000 Members of Prospero’s Court
The 1,000 wealthy knights and dames that Prospero invites to his estate so they can all avoid the Red Death. They are the only subjects that Prospero offers salvation to. While at the estate, the guests are equally charmed and unsettled by the unconventional whims of their prince. However, they are all happy to enjoy the lavish provisions, entertainments, and parties that Prospero provides them all with.
