High School

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. "They resolved to leave means neither of ingress nor egress to the sudden impulses of despair or of frenzy from within. The abbey was amply provisioned. With such precautions the courtiers might bid defiance to contagion. The external world could take care of itself."

3. "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:

Poe's excerpt demonstrates the indifference of the wealthy to the suffering caused by the Red Death through their seclusion and revelry despite the epidemic. The insensitivity is highlighted in their isolation, the Prince's joyous gatherings, and their belief that the external world can manage the crisis without their involvement. These points underscore a stark contrast between the lives of the privileged and the suffering of the populace.


Explanation:

Analysis of Insensitivity in "The Masque of the Red Death"

In Edgar Allan Poe's "The Masque of the Red Death," several passages emphasize the insensitivity of the wealthy and powerful towards the suffering caused by the Red Death. Three notable parts include:

  1. "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 line highlights how the victims of the plague are ostracized and isolated, suggesting that the privileged are indifferent to the plight of those suffering from the disease.

  2. "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..."

    Here, the Prince embodies a callous disregard for the ongoing tragedy, throwing a lavish party while ignoring the suffering outside his walls.

  3. "The external world could take care of itself. In the meantime it was folly to grieve, or to think."

    This statement reflects a philosophy of detachment and denial, underscoring the elite's belief that they can escape the horrors of the plague by isolating themselves.

These excerpts collectively illustrate the indifference of the upper class towards the Red Death and its impact on society. They depict a facade of normalcy maintained through isolation and denial, while those outside suffer tremendously.


Learn more about Insensitivity of the wealthy here:

https://brainly.com/question/41353508


Other Questions