Answer :
Final answer:
The excerpt that best shows Prince Prospero's self-centeredness is when he retreats to a secluded abbey with his friends while his dominions are suffering.
Explanation:
The excerpt from 'The Masque of the Red Death' that best shows Prince Prospero's self-centeredness is:
'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.'
This excerpt demonstrates Prince Prospero's self-centeredness by showing how he prioritizes his own happiness and safety over the well-being of his people. Instead of working to protect and help them, he isolates himself with his friends, leaving his dominions depopulated.