What does the Prince hope to do by locking himself in castle book called The Masque of Red Death?

In Edgar Allan Poe's "The Masque of the Red Death," the Prince, in his attempt to escape the plague, isolates himself and his court in his fortified abbey. He believes that by creating a self-sufficient, luxurious environment, he can outwit the disease.

The Prince's actions are driven by:

* Fear and denial: He is terrified of the Red Death, and his efforts to lock himself away are a desperate attempt to avoid the inevitable.

* A belief in control: He thinks that by controlling his surroundings, he can control his fate and the fate of his court. He surrounds himself with beautiful things and a sense of order to create a false sense of security.

* Hubris and arrogance: The Prince believes himself to be above the forces of nature and the Grim Reaper, convinced that his wealth and power can shield him from the plague.

However, the Prince's actions are ultimately futile. The Red Death, symbolic of death itself, cannot be escaped. It intrudes upon the abbey, ultimately claiming the lives of all within, including the Prince himself.

The story suggests that even in the face of terror, true escape is impossible. The Prince's attempt to control death through physical isolation only highlights the fragility of human existence and the inevitable march of time.