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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. "With such precautions the courtiers might bid defiance to contagion. 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.'"

Answer :

Final answer:

The excerpt from Poe's "The Masque of the Red Death" illustrates the insensitivity of the powerful and wealthy towards the disease outbreak through three key passages. These highlight Prince Prospero's focus on pleasure, disregard for the suffering of others, and his decision to isolate himself and his court despite the ongoing pestilence. Ultimately, this reflects a broader commentary on the indifference of the privileged to the hardships faced by the less fortunate.


Explanation:

Understanding Insensitivity Towards Suffering in Poe's "The Masque of the Red Death"

In Edgar Allan Poe's short story "The Masque of the Red Death," the powerful and wealthy are portrayed as being noticeably insensitive to the outbreak of disease and the suffering it causes. Here are three key passages that highlight this insensitivity:

  1. "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."

    This passage reflects the opulence and distractions that Prince Prospero cultivates within the abbey in the face of the ravaging plague outside. His focus on entertainment and pleasure starkly contrasts with the misery experienced by those affected by the Red Death.

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

    Here, the prince’s blatant disregard for the suffering in the outside world exemplifies the indifference of the elite as they isolate themselves. This attitude suggests a complete detachment from the reality of the public health crisis.

  3. "He summoned to his presence a thousand hale and light-hearted friends from among the knights and dames of his court... while the pestilence raged most furiously abroad."

    This highlights the fact that despite the ongoing suffering from the pestilence, Prince Prospero continues to indulge in lavish gatherings, demonstrating a troubling insensitivity towards the plight of the sick and dying.

These selections from the text vividly illustrate how the wealthy, represented by Prince Prospero, choose to ignore the suffering of those who fall victim to the disease, opting instead for isolation and enjoyment.


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