Answer :
The parts of excerpt from Edgar Allan Poe's "The Masque of the Red Death" which highlight the suggestion that the powerful and wealthy in the story are insensitive toward the outbreak of the disease and those who are suffering are:
“But the Prince Prospero was happy and dauntless and sagacious.”
“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.”
The story “The Masque of the Red Death" by Edgar Allan Poe is literally and allegorically about death. Prince Prospero wanted to hide from death but is left not rescued from it. He arranged a party where he invited people from his kingdom. He ordered to decorate the halls with single colors each. The last hall was colored black which symbolizes death and the windows were painted red. There was an ebony clock which strikes everyone’s attention at the passing of every hour. Though people were busy in the celebrating the party with music and orchestra but at every hour when the clock rings which caught everyone’s attention. The tone in which Poe describes the rooms, the clock, the ringing of the clock, the activities of the people and the entry of death in the party gives an insight about the play that death is inevitable. Death is the central theme of the play. The Poe wants to focus on the issue that no one can be rescued from death by applying any means.
Final answer:
Three parts of the excerpt from "The Masque of the Red Death" are The intentional isolation of the abbey, which suggests the aristocracy's indifference including the prince's retreat with his friends and their negligent attitude towards the external world. The prince's decision to seclude himself, the sealing of the abbey's gates, and their disregard for the external world amidst widespread suffering.
Explanation:
Three parts of the excerpt from Edgar Allan Poe's "The Masque of the Red Death" suggest that the powerful and wealthy are indifferent to the suffering caused by the disease:
The prince's decision to seclude himself: "(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 shows his disregard for the plight of his subjects.
The intentional isolation of the abbey: "(This wall had gates of iron. The courtiers, having entered, brought furnaces and massy hammers and welded the bolts.)" Illustrates a deliberate effort to separate themselves from the affected people outside.
Their negligent attitude towards the external world: "(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.)" Reveals their lack of empathy and concern for others' suffering, focusing instead on their enjoyment.