Prince Prospero is a character from Edgar Allan Poe's short story "The Masque of the Red Death." He is depicted as a wealthy and powerful nobleman who seeks to escape a deadly plague known as the Red Death by isolating himself and his friends in a lavish abbey. In the story, Prince Prospero hosts a grand masquerade ball, showcasing his opulence and disregard for the suffering outside. However, his attempts to avoid the inevitable consequences of the plague ultimately fail, highlighting themes of mortality and the futility of trying to escape death.