What do the rooms signify in Edgar Allen Poe's short story "The Masque of the Red Death"?

Arrangement and decoration colors of rooms east to west in Prospero’s Castellated Abbey in Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Masque of the Red Death”

The seven rooms could represent any or all of the following:

1. The seven stages of life as laid out by Shakespeare in As You Like It.

     a. This concept resonates because Poe has named his prince Prospero, one of the leading characters of The Tempest. Prospero is a wizard/king who has control of his island and admits only those he wishes to be there.

     b. The clock in the last room announces the end of each stage, causing all to pause from their revelry

     c. The last room is where everyone dies.

2. The passage of time as represented by the light of the sun from morning to night, night being the end of day and/or life.

3. The Seven Deadly Sins is a classification of the most objectionable vices, that has been used since early Christian times to educate and instruct followers concerning (immoral) fallen man's tendency to sin. It consists of "Lust," "Gluttony," "Greed," "Sloth," "Wrath," "Envy," and "Pride"—all of which occur in the fortress.

     a. This concept resonates because of Poe’s use of biblical language.

          i. “comes like a thief in the night”

          ii. Allusions to the Red Death as an antichrist, an inverted Christ

     b. Contrast these with the seven holy virtues: chastity, temperance, charity, diligence, patience, kindness, and humility—none of which happen inside the fortress.

4. The seven days of the week, which are named in English after gods, but not God.

     a. Sun-day: the day of the Sun (Sp. Domingo)

     b. Mon-day: the day of the Moon (Sp. Lunes, Roman moon)

     c. Tues-day: Tiwes’ Daeg, the day of the war god, Norse mythology (Sp. Martes, the day of Mars, the Roman god of war)

     d. Wednes-day: Woden’s Daeg, the day of the chief god (Sp. Miercoles)

     e. Thurs-day: Thor’s Daeg, the god of thunder and lightning (Sp. Jueves, the day of Zeus, who also controlled thunder and lightning)

     f. Fri-day: Frigga’s Daeg, the goddess of marriage (Sp. Viernes-Venus’ day)

     g. Satur-day: Saturn’s day, Roman mythology (Sp. Sabado, Sabbath)
  
This blog is based on an answer that I provided to Answer.com in 2009.
 
 

 
Edgar Allen Poe is a fascinating character and one of America's best and most influential writers of the 19th century.  If I were to compile a list of favorite stories, I would probably include "The Masque of the Red Death," "The Tell-Tale Heart," "The Cask of Amontillado," "The Pit and the Pendulum" and "The Fall of the House of Usher"--all written by Poe.  He invented the detective story and is a master of the horror story.  His poetry has had a great influence on poetry around the globe.  His most famous poem "The Raven" has been translated into almost every other language; in fact, you can find these translations on the Web.  I spent one day searching and found dozens of translations in African, Asian, Native American and European languages.  Many of the translations rhymed, but none could capture Poe's rhthym, although a Spanish version came close.
 
If you would like to read his works, follow any of these links: