“And Darkness and Decay and the Red Death held illimitable dominion over all.”
Edgar Allan Poe
Why this quote resonates
This is one of those quotes that sounds like a slow, dark drum. We chose it because it is the last line of one of Poe’s best known stories. It fits Halloween because it feels grand, gloomy and a little theatrical.
Meaning of the quote
This is the last line of The Masque of the Red Death, a story set at a masquerade, which is a party where guests wear masks. In plain language, death and darkness win in the end, even over the guests who tried to hide from them. The nuance is that the masks and the party protect nobody. It is a story about how no one can escape death.
When people share this quote
We think this suits gothic invitations, masquerade parties and dark poetry posts. It also works as the closing line of a spooky reading. Fans of Poe and students of classic horror will enjoy it.
