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. "But the Prince Prospero was happy and dauntless and sagacious. 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 passage from Poe's work highlights the insensitivity of the powerful through Prince Prospero's disregard for the Red Death and its impact on society. His actions, as he revels in luxury while people suffer outside, illustrate a stark contrast between wealth and the shared plight of the victims. Ultimately, Poe critiques this lack of empathy among the affluent during times of crisis.

Explanation:

Edgar Allan Poe's "The Masque of the Red Death" Analysis

The excerpt from Edgar Allan Poe's "The Masque of the Red Death" presents a clear picture of the insensitivity of the powerful, particularly through the character of Prince Prospero and his actions during a devastating plague. Three parts of the passage that highlight this insensitivity are:

"The 'Red Death' had long devastated the country. No pestilence had ever been so fatal, or so hideous." - This opening line establishes the severity of the outbreak, emphasizing the catastrophic impact on society, which Prince Prospero chooses to ignore.
"But the Prince Prospero was happy and dauntless and sagacious. When his dominions were half depopulated, he summoned to his presence a thousand hale and light-hearted friends..." - This demonstrates his blatant disregard for the suffering of his subjects as he isolates himself and his friends, showing a stark contrast between his luxurious lifestyle and the grim reality outside his walls.
"The external world could take care of itself. In the meantime it was folly to grieve..." - This illustrates the prince's complete detachment from the plight of the infected populace, revealing his self-centered attitude in the face of widespread tragedy.

Through these selections, Poe critiques the attitude of the affluent towards pandemics, indicating a failure to empathize with the suffering of others while indulging in excess.

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