Answer :
Final answer:
In the excerpt from "The Masque of the Red Death," certain passages highlight the insensitivity of the wealthy towards those suffering from the disease. Key segments show the emotional detachment of Prince Prospero and his court, illustrating their disregard for the external plight around them. Poe uses these contrasts to critique the apathy of the powerful during tragic times.
Explanation:
Identifying Insensitivity in Poe's Excerpt
In Edgar Allan Poe's "The Masque of the Red Death," several passages depict the insensitivity of the powerful and wealthy towards the suffering caused by the Red Death. The following segments emphasize this theme:
- "The scarlet stains upon the body and especially upon the face of the victim, were the pest ban which shut him out from the aid and from the sympathy of his fellow-men." - This statement illustrates the disconnect between the wealthy and the afflicted, highlighting how the visible signs of the disease isolate victims from society.
- "The Prince Prospero was happy and dauntless and sagacious." - This line depicts the Prince's emotional state, which suggests an obliviousness to the tragedy that surrounds him. His happiness contrasts sharply with the suffering outside his walls.
- "The external world could take care of itself. In the meantime it was folly to grieve, or to think." - This quote further emphasizes the Prince's indifference and dismissal of the reality faced by those suffering from the plague. It underscores his choice to ignore the​ plight of the people in his dominion.
Through these excerpts, Poe critiques the apathy of the affluent, who prefer to indulge in pleasure while the world outside suffers greatly from the devastating effects of the Red Death.
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