Answer:
The best answer is:
B. Mankind has always tried to conquer death, but they have always failed.
Here's why:
Prospero's action: He tries to overpower and potentially kill the figure representing death.
Symbolism of the figure: The cloaked figure represents the Red Death, a symbol of inevitable death.
Meaning: Prospero's attempt to kill the figure signifies humanity's futile struggle against death.
While the other options touch on related themes, they aren't as directly connected to Prospero's specific action.
