Select the correct text(s) in the passage.

Which three parts of this excerpt from Edgar Allan Poe's "The Masque of the Red Death" highlight the suggestion that the powerful and wealthy in the story are insensitive toward the outbreak of the disease and those who are suffering?

1. "When his dominions were half depopulated, he summoned to his presence a thousand hale and light-hearted friends from among the knights and dames of his court, and with these retired to the deep seclusion of one of his castellated abbeys."

2. "The external world could take care of itself. In the meantime it was folly to grieve, or to think."

3. "The prince had provided all the appliances of pleasure. There were buffoons, there were improvisatori, there were ballet-dancers, there were musicians, there was Beauty, there was wine. All these and security were within. Without was the 'Red Death.'"

The selected excerpts from 'The Masque of the Red Death' reveal the insensitivity of the wealthy towards the suffering caused by the plague. The prince's carefree attitude, belief in their immunity, and dismissive thoughts towards the external world highlight their detachment from reality. These lines illustrate the broader theme of privilege in the face of suffering.

Explanation:

Identifying Insensitivity to Suffering in Poe's Text

In Edgar Allan Poe's "The Masque of the Red Death," several passages highlight the insensitivity of the wealthy and powerful towards the deadly plague affecting their society. The following three excerpts illustrate this insensitivity effectively:

"But the Prince Prospero was happy and dauntless and sagacious." - This line underscores the prince’s carefree attitude despite the ongoing plague, showing how the wealthy remain detached from the suffering around them.
"The external world could take care of itself. In the meantime it was folly to grieve, or to think." - This quote reflects the dismissive attitude of those in power, reinforcing their choice to ignore the plight of the less fortunate.
"With such precautions the courtiers might bid defiance to contagion." - Here, the rich believe that their wealth and privilege can shield them from the consequences of the plague, revealing their self-centeredness and lack of empathy.

These passages collectively suggest that the nobility’s obsession with pleasure and security ultimately blinds them to the reality of the suffering caused by the disease outside their walls.

Learn more about insensitivity of the powerful here:

https://brainly.com/question/26981328