Thesis: The text argues that every individual has a predetermined destiny from birth, which cannot be altered despite one’s efforts. This idea is exemplified in the poem “Annabel Lee,” where the narrator believes his love for his deceased wife is stronger than death itself, and thus struggles to accept that fate cannot be changed. The conflict in the poem arises from the inescapable clash between man and nature, specifically death, which remains beyond human control regardless of their attempts. This conflict is clearly illustrated when the poem states, “With a love that the winged seraphs of heaven Coveted her and me,” implying that the angels were envious of the narrator’s love for Annabel Lee, ultimately leading to her demise. The narrator’s motivation to deny and disregard fate stems from his unconditional love for Annabel Lee.
He stated, “And this young woman resided with no other consideration than to adore and be adored by me… But we loved with an affection that exceeded mere love – I and my Annabel Lee.” He held the belief that their destinies were intertwined, and their only destiny would be one of romance, love, and overall positivity. Throughout the entirety of the poem, he employed repetition by continually reiterating the name of his deceased bride, emphasizing the harsh reality that he refuses to accept – a fate that unfolded without his consent, leaving him in a state of denial.
The poem “Annabel Lee” portrays the protagonist’s denial until the end, when he declares that nothing can separate his soul from Annabel Lee’s. However, in reality, their souls have been separated since her death. Similarly, “The Masque of the Red Death” illustrates the concept of an inescapable fate. The fictional country in the story is plagued by a disease known as the Red Death. Despite this, Prince Prospero disregards the problem and continues his extravagant lifestyle, believing that his royal status will protect him from his inevitable fate—a victim of the plague. The line “But, in spite of these things, it was a gay and magnificent revel. The tastes of the duke were peculiar” emphasizes how oblivious Prospero is to the terror occurring beyond the castle gates.
The prince’s castle contains numerous rooms. One of these rooms is described as follows: “The seventh apartment was closely covered in dark velvet tapestries, which hung from the ceiling and covered the walls, draping heavily onto a carpet made of the same material and color. However, in this particular room, the window color did not match the decorations. The windows here were deep blood red in color.” In this passage, Edgar Allan Poe utilizes symbolism.
The room represented death, symbolized by its black and red colors, specifically the Red Death. By showcasing these elements, it demonstrated the intrinsic connection between death and the Red Death. Following this, the prince hosted a masquerade ball where an uninvited guest, believed to personify the Red Death, attended. The guest was suspected of attending with the intention of insulting the prince for throwing a party amidst a plague that plagued the country. Prospero, himself, confronts the Red Death and questions, “Who dares? Who dare insult us with this disrespectful imitation?”
Seize him and unmask him –that we may know whom we have to hang at sunrise, from the battlements
The personification kills Prospero in the 7th room revealing the theme of the story, which is the fact that you can’t run away, or in this case, ignore, your destiny, because it will come whether you are ready for it or not.
3)Ms. Found in a Bottle “Ms. Found in a Bottle” is a short story that follows an account of a horrid situation a man had to go through. This man, unlike many of the others, understands, and accepts fate.
The narrator is preparing for a sea voyage, but realizes that the weather is not suitable for safe travel. He believes that every visible sign, such as the weather, the ocean, and the clouds, indicates the presence of a violent storm called a simoom. This foreshadows the upcoming storm, which indeed happens soon after. The conflict in this situation is between man and nature, as the narrator is going against the storms at sea. Only the narrator and one other person survive the storm, and the narrator wonders how he managed to escape destruction, referring to it as a miracle. This highlights the idea of something impossible becoming possible and also alludes to fate, as the narrator believes it was not his time to die since he didn’t write his manuscript. After spending 5 days surviving off the wreckage of their ship, another storm hits and throws the protagonist onto a massive black ship. His journey will soon end on this ship, and after getting somewhat accustomed to his new surroundings, he mentions that he recently took materials from the captain’s private cabin to write with.
I will continue this Journal intermittently, knowing that I may not have a chance to share it with the world. However, I will make an effort. When the moment comes, I will place the manuscript in a bottle and throw it into the sea. The protagonist accept his fate and fully embrace it, recognizing its inevitable nature. The story “The Tell-Tale Heart” depicts a man who almost manages to elude his destiny. Nonetheless, as life demonstrates, destiny always triumphs in the end. The narrator of the tale resides with an elderly man, presumably as a caregiver.
The narrator of the story describes the old man’s eye as being similar to that of a vulture – a pale blue color with a film covering it. This vivid imagery portrays how disgustingly horrifying the eye appeared to the narrator. The sight of the eye filled the narrator with dread and led to their decision to kill the old man. Before carrying out the murder, the narrator heard a familiar sound – a low, dull, quick noise similar to a watch being wrapped in cotton. The narrator recognized it as the beating of the old man’s heart. This sound intensified their anger, much like how the beating of a drum motivates a soldier in battle. This foreshadowing hints that this sound will ultimately lead to the narrator’s downfall. To cover up the murder, the narrator hid the old man’s body beneath the floorboards.
The narrator believed that he had successfully circumvented fate. He boldly placed chairs in the room and invited others to rest, while he arrogantly positioned his own seat directly above the corpse of the victim. The police officers arrived in response to a neighbor’s call and were led to the room where the lifeless body lay. Overwhelmed by guilt, the narrator once again heard the beating of a heart, wondering if the police officers could hear it too. Convinced of his guilt, he confessed and revealed the location of the body, ultimately confirming that his destiny was imprisonment for his crime. Despite coming close to outsmarting fate, no matter how meticulous one’s plans may be, they will always proceed undisturbed.
