The Theme of Power and Powerlessness in Literary Works

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The Theme of Power and Powerlessness
Power and powerlessness are two inherent concepts in most literary works. Technically, whenever there is power, there must be powerlessness as well. Diverse conceptualizations of power and powerlessness co-exist depending on the various theories and philosophies depicted by the literature (Tew 40). Power may be described as the practice or ability to exert control over others. At the same time, powerlessness may be referred to as the expectancy that people's behaviors cannot determine the reinforcements and outcomes of their expectations. Power and powerlessness may be expressed in the form of force, influence, or authority. In the novels "In The Penal Colony' by Franz Kafka and "All Quiet On The Western Front" by Erich Remarque, the varying contexts of power and powerlessness are clearly portrayed through the characters portrayed by the Officer and the Prisoner and Himmelstoss and Paul, respectively. This paper seeks to discuss the theme of power and powerlessness in these novels featuring the two characters.
"All Quiet on the Western Front" portrays the harrowing and emotional experience of World War I through the eyes of a young German soldier by the name Paul Baümer. During the war, Paul grapples with many things, including regret, the impact of authority figures, death, and influential presence in the hands of his drill instructor Corporal Himmelstoss. Remarque examines this authoritative figure in the context of war and outside, indicting the variations in status and power in public life and on the war front. On the other hand, in "In The Penal Colony," Kafka explores what makes appropriate, fair, and processes in society. His plot is centered on the execution of a prisoner who was sentenced to death without a trial by a powerful officer who assumes that everybody accused of committing a crime is actually guilty. The prisoner was accused of disrespecting the authority, further emphasizing the effect of power structures in the world. Powerlessness is clearly evident on the part of the prisoner as he is not even aware of his charges. This underscores the fact that the justice system of Penal Colony is not concerned with the protection and rehabilitation of its subjects.
"In the Penal Colony," the blind belief in a primitive leadership system is clearly shown through the officer. The officer is deeply proud of the "apparatus," an execution machine developed by his old commandant. He is very much proud of that system and keens on explaining its use. The prisoner has no knowledge concerning his sentence because the penal colony did not allow him to defend himself. This kind of authoritative leadership where the law is denied renders the subject powerless. The power structure in the story outlines the officer's authoritative collusion concerning the apparatus's functioning. The apparatus, which is a justice system to punish the accused by writing the sentences on the condemned man's body about his violations with pearling needles and water, will flush out the blood designed by his former deceased commandant. Although it was meant to bring enlightenment to the prisoner, the reality is that it was an autocratic system with no humanitarian values (Kafka...