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“But the Prince Prospero was happy and dauntless and sagacious. When his dominions were half depopulated, he summoned to his presence a thousand hale and light-hearted friends from among the knights and dames of his court, and with these retired to the deep seclusion of one of his castellated abbeys.”
One of Prospero’s defining characteristics is his inherently selfish nature. Poe establishes this important aspect of Prospero’s character by juxtaposing his “happ[iness]” with the information that half of his subjects were killed by the Red Death. Prospero’s disregard for his subjects and his plan to sequester himself and his court in a lavish palace until the plague runs its course reveal that he does not care about anyone except himself. Clearly he has the money to help the poorer population, but he views that as a waste of funds that could be better spent on pleasure.
“He had a fine eye for colors and effects. He disregarded the decora of mere fashion. His plans were bold and fiery, and his conceptions glowed with barbaric lustre. There are some who would have thought him mad. His followers felt that he was not. It was necessary to hear and see and touch him to be sure that he was not.”
This passage occurs towards the middle of the story when the narrator describes how the courtiers feel about Prospero and his eccentric taste. The narrator notes that while the guests enjoy the estate’s splendor, many are wary of Prospero and have moments in which they question his sanity. This is an important moment in the text because it is the only instance where readers are able to get a glimpse into the minds of Prospero’s court and see that they are, at least sometimes, unsettled by their prince.
