The Logistics of a Lesson

A detailed Summary of The Logistics of a Lesson

Parable: A short allegorical story designed to convey some truth, religious principle, or moral lesson (Merriam Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, Tenth Edition). An author will often make a statement advising the audience to read in a manner suited for a parable to ensure the lesson is not overlooked. Hawthorne does this in The Minister's Black Veil by deeming his story "A Parable" in the subtitle. Poe states in his Philosophy of Composition that he writes tales with an "under-current" (Poe, p.491) or lesson, one such story this applies to is The Masque of the Red Death. Without these reading instructions, the embedded parable is easily overlooked. Common archetypal symbols are found in parables that discuss the timeless biblical sins (greed, lust, murder, etc.).

The tales which follow reveal the consequences for those who immerse themselves in vanity and gluttony. He who wears the mask has become too aware of what his peers preach. To hide something means to be ashamed of it. These people must confront the reality they hide and realize what is true.

THE STRONGHOLD. The people of these stories not only have a mental facade but a physical one, too. In Masque of the Red Death, a prince and his healthy friends and famil

THE OUTSIDER. Security is lost when a stranger is spotted within the group. Such a shock brings reactions that create a cascade of emotion. It is the figure's appearance that defines his unequal status: specifically, the type of concealment over the face. This sole difference is the fulcrum in each parable. The minister's black veil disturbs the contented congregation because this symbol accompanies death-what humans fear most. All they can do to ease the tension is rationalize to themselves why he wears it. His continuing arrogance to explain or remove the crape leads to his exile from the group. Minister Hooper dies unmarried, childless, without friends, and feared. The mask of the Red Death brings a similar reaction from the partygoers. The masqueraders are shocked that anyone would be so disrespectful to the dead and this reminder of the gruesome reality which was left behind makes them extremely uncomfortable; anyone who is so sick as to adorn themselves with such a monstrosity breaks the rules of a social class which is governed by formalities and unquestioned compliance.

An apprehensive feeling builds with every chime that brings the focus to the dark room on death, but the warning is soon forgotten and the party commences. The veil may be the Minister's warning to his people that they, too, will be in mourning if they do not recognize their faulted ways. Just as the putridly masked figure marches towards the last chamber and its clock, the Minster is slowly parading his veil for all to see as the clock of Fate ticks away. This is his warning to all that their time to be judged will come, too, and whether or not they choose to admit they wear a mask before this time is up to them.

THE FOLLOWERS. The people who seek shelter possess traits that are prerequisites to being in the stronghold. Only those wh

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Approximate Word count = 1240
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English