Definite Article THE

If I chose one, it would be the third. The definite article applies to both terms governed by the conjunction, "and"

"The non-proletarians, indeed even the reactionaries and counter-revolutionaries, were capable of being reformed.

Why can't we take "non-proletarians," "reactionaries" and "counter-revolutionaries" to be general groups (like "Americans") and drop all the "the"? Is the definite article absolutely indispensable here? I am trying to grope for the rule for using definite article here. Thank you.

I have found my last pen.

SuperESLIs the definite article absolutely indispensable here?

It depends on the context. Are you talking about particular groups, or non-proletarians, reactionaries and counter-revolutionaries. in general?

If the context is a specific period of history, for example, the Stalinist era after the Russian revolution, then you are talking about specific sub-groups of people, and you need the definite articles. If the context is discussing "universal truths," in terms of susceptibility of general groups to reform, then the sentence can be written with no articles.

"Universal truth"
Non-pro

Why if I am describing what Stalin's henchmen meant to be universal truths - rather than just those categories of people as existed in Stalinist Soviet Union - in reported speech? Can I then say:

"Stalin's henchmen advised that non-proletarians, indeed even reactionaries and counter-revolutionaries, were capable of being reformed and did not to be sent to Siberia."?

By spe

SuperESLWhy if I am describing what Stalin's henchmen meant to be universal truths - rather than just those categories of people as existed in Stalinist Soviet Union - in reported speech? Can I then say:"Stalin's henchmen advised that non-proletarians, indeed even reactionaries and counter-revolutionaries, were capable of being reformed and did not to be sent to Siberia."