What does the dagger represent in the masque of the red death?

In "The Masque of the Red Death" by Edgar Allan Poe, the dagger symbolizes the inevitability of death and the futility of trying to escape it. As Prince Prospero attempts to avoid the plague by isolating himself in his lavish abbey, the dagger serves as a reminder that no wealth or power can protect him from mortality. Ultimately, it underscores the theme that death is an inescapable part of the human experience.