Which quotation most strongly contributes to the hopeless mood in "The Masque of the Red Death"?

A. "And Darkness and Decay and the Red Death held illimitable dominion over all."

B. "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."

C. "But in the western or black chamber the effect of the fire-light that streamed upon the dark hangings through the blood-tinted panes, was ghastly in the extreme, and produced so wild a look upon the countenances of those who entered, that there were few of the company bold enough to set foot within its precincts at all."

D. "When the echoes had fully ceased, a light laughter at once pervaded the assembly, the musicians looked at each other and smiled as if at their own nervousness and folly, and made whispering vows, each to the other, that the next chiming of the clock should produce in them no similar emotion."

The quotation "And Darkness and Decay and the Red Death held illimitable dominion over all" most strongly contributes to the hopeless mood in Poe's story. It emphasizes the theme of inevitability regarding death and despair. This line stands out as a powerful reflection of the overarching atmosphere of hopelessness in "The Masque of the Red Death."

Explanation:

Understanding the Hopeless Mood in "The Masque of the Red Death"

In Edgar Allan Poe's "The Masque of the Red Death," the quotation that most strongly contributes to the hopeless mood is: "And Darkness and Decay and the Red Death held illimitable dominion over all." This line encapsulates the pervasive sense of despair and inevitability that the story conveys. It suggests that no matter the efforts of Prince Prospero and his guests to escape, they are ultimately powerless against the omnipresent force of death represented by the Red Death.

This statement contrasts sharply with earlier descriptions of the prince's lavish attempts to ignore the plague, highlighting the futility of seeking refuge from something as inescapable as death. In contrast, other quotations in the text, while contributing to the overall atmosphere, do not convey the same finality and dread as this one. For example, while the line about the guests' laughter acknowledges a brief escape through entertainment, it ultimately serves as a reminder of their vulnerability when they confront the inevitable.

Conclusion

Therefore, the chosen quotation effectively encapsulates the hopelessness that pervades the entire narrative, underscoring the theme of mortality that Poe masterfully explores throughout the work.

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