Was the castle viewed as a life form?

There are many instances which Poe's writing can be analyzed to identify the symbolism behind various details in his stories. He was an artist that enjoyed to make his readers think about the hidden meanings of certain elements of his works. There is evidence of this found in "The Masque of the Red Death." Prince Prospero's castle can be compared to a living and functioning organism. It has the ability to maintain its health by ways of a defense system. Poe writes "This was an extensive and magnificent structue, the creation of the prince's own eccentric yet august taste. A strong and lofty wall girdled it in. This wall had gates of iron." He further explains how the purpose of these defense mechanisms were to keep everyone inside, and more importantly, keep the 'Red Death' out. Moving to the inside of the castle, the seven colorful rooms each have a distinct characteristic that contributes to the make up of the castle. Ultimately, each room can be thought of as an organ with its own function. For example, the black room with the scarlet window could be thought of as the heart of the castle. It is the room that stands out with the most importance. It contains the ebony clock that chimes every hour, symbolizing the heart beat of the castle. 

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