Why did Edgar allan poe call the guests dreams in the masque of the red death?

In "The Masque of the Red Death," Edgar Allan Poe calls the guests "dreams" to symbolize their detachment from the harsh realities of the world outside their revelry. By likening them to dreams, Poe highlights their temporary existence within the luxurious confines of the palace, sheltered from the devastating effects of the Red Death ravaging the outside world. This emphasizes the theme of escapism and the inevitability of mortality.