"No One Is Safe Until Everyone Is"

An Epidemiological Reading of Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Masque of the Red Death”

Abstract

Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Masque of the Red Death” (1842) serves as a powerful allegory for societal responses to epidemics, particularly at the intersection of privilege, denialism, and public health failures. This article offers an interdisciplinary analysis of Poe’s tale through the lenses of epidemiology and the social determinants of health (SDH). By examining the selective isolation strategy employed by the protagonist, Prince Prospero, we explore its parallels with both historical and contemporary responses to infectious disease outbreaks, including the COVID-19 pandemic. Drawing from epidemiological frameworks, we analyze how the narrative reflects flawed strategies of primary prevention, the illusion of absolute protection among the privileged, and the consequences of neglecting collective responsibility. The study situates “The Masque of the Red Death” within broader discussions on health inequities, herd immunity, and crisis mismanagement. The narrative depiction of both physical and psychological denialism is examined in parallel with real-world instances of scientific denial during pandemics. This essay argues that Poe’s gothic fiction not only anticipates patterns of epidemic response, but also serves as a didactic reflection on the ethical and structural failures that exacerbate public health crises. Ultimately, the tale underscores the futility of individualistic survival strategies in the face of widespread contagion. By bridging literary analysis with an epidemiological perspective, this study highlights the enduring relevance of literature in critically examining societal attitudes toward disease, mortality, and public health ethics.