“In the Penal Colony” looks into issues of justice, authority, and the human condition through the account of an execution machine in a penal colony. The story goes over various aspects of justice and punishment, which raises concerns about the morality and effectiveness of harsh punishment. The penal colony mirrors society, where those who have power force their ways on the weak, usually without following the law or showing any care for the rights of others.
One of the story’s main symbols for the harsh and inhumane aspects of the penal system is the apparatus. The prisoner’s punishment is set in stone in their bodies; a machine, which results in their execution. The method of execution is a reflection of the system’s cruelty and unjust character, where people suffer and die at the choice of those in positions of authority.
The ‘heat’ in the colony, especially for the officer, refers to the environment’s oppressive nature. It represents the harsh ethics of the penal system, in which both the guilty and those in charge are caught in an endless cycle of violence and agony. Referring to a “teahouse” and a “cane chair” shows the colonial context of the stories, suggesting that the colonizers are from a European background. Furthermore, it highlights the themes of oppression and power dynamics.
I appreciate how this post shines light to the main plot points of the text and summarizes their purpose well
Good stuff like the quotes you included.
The apparatus does represent the power of the authoritarian government, but the old government whose ideals don’t align with the new government.