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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. "A strong and lofty wall girdled it in. This wall had gates of iron. The courtiers, having entered, brought furnaces and massy hammers and welded the bolts. They resolved to leave means neither of ingress nor egress to the sudden impulses of despair or of frenzy from within."

3. "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. 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 selected excerpts from Poe's "The Masque of the Red Death" reveal the indifference of the wealthy towards the suffering caused by the disease. They highlight how the privileged prioritize their luxury and isolation over empathy for the afflicted. This insensitivity is a core theme in the narrative.


Explanation:

Identifying Insensitivity in "The Masque of the Red Death"

In Edgar Allan Poe's "The Masque of the Red Death," several parts of the excerpt highlight the insensitivity of the powerful and wealthy towards the suffering caused by the outbreak of the disease. The following three parts particularly emphasize this theme:

  1. The external world could take care of itself. This statement indicates a blatant disregard for those suffering outside the abbey walls, suggesting that the wealthy prioritize their own safety and luxury over the misfortunes of the afflicted.
  2. It was folly to grieve, or to think. This implies that the privileged class chooses to ignore the reality of the Red Death, opting instead for hedonism and celebration, thus showcasing their indifference to the chaos outside.
  3. the prince had provided all the appliances of pleasure. Here, the focus on entertainment and distraction emphasizes how the elites are more attentive to their own enjoyment rather than the plight of the dying population, reflecting a deep-seated insensitivity.

These excerpts collectively illustrate how the wealthy seek refuge in isolation and pleasure, revealing their emotional disconnect from those suffering from the terrible outbreak of the Red Death.


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