Question

In response to the plague in “The Masque of the Red Death”, Prince Prospero locks himself and his courtiers away in a castle, letting the rest of the country "take care of itself." The narrator calls the prince "sagacious." What does this word reveal about the story's narrator?

A. The narrator wants readers to empathize with Prince Prospero.

B. The narrator thinks it is wise to quarantine people during a plague.

C. The narrator uses irony to suggest the prince is actually foolish.

D. The narrator is completely objective and unbiased.

Answer 1

C. The narrator uses irony to suggest the prince is actually foolish.

Step-by-step explanation:

The word "sagacious" implies having or demonstrating wise judgement, knowledge, and foresight. In this case, by characterizing Prince Prospero as being "sagacious," the narrator is utilizing irony to signify that the prince's choice to sequester himself and his followers within a fortress during a pestilence is actually ill-advised and lacks sensible judgement. This irony implies reproach concerning the prince's decisions and accentuates the narrator's critical view on the narrative's occurrences. Consequently, the narrator is not completely impartial and unprejudiced.