In the Penal Colony

Although Kafkas story In the Penal Colony batch be considered 3rd person omniscient, I reckon the story was primary narrated by officeholder. I agree with Brittanys interpretation that the traveller benefits from the narration of the policeman, because I believe that the traveller symbolizes the reader while the officer plays a more(prenominal) active role as the narrator. The traveler like the reader is brought to a foreign place where the officers explain the intricacies of his beloved machine.The officer seems to be in control of everyone on the penal colony, while the traveler seems to be a passive bystander who did not try to stop the officers unjustified punishment. The traveler now wanted to remain silent, solely he felt the eyes of the condemned man on him he seemed to be asking whether the traveler could approve the procedure that had just been described. (Page 40) Even when the traveler believed that it was immoral to judge the condemned man without a fair trial, h e believe it was wiser to not to interfere with the officers judgment.Nevertheless, he had to remind himself that this was a penal colony, that special disciplinary measures were necessary here, and that military procedures had to prevail throughout. (Page 41) Therefore, I think the authoritative officer seems to be primary narrator. By presenting the muniment in this perspective, the reader like the traveler is able to emotionally and intellectually react to story however, we can only be the passive bystander observance the inhumane acts unfold right before our eyes.Perhaps we are the traveler who just happens to be invited to penal colony. Perhaps we possess neither the fearlessness nor the power to stop torture of the condemned man. More importantly, by representing the traveler as the reader, Kafka asks the reader several critical questions. Would we impose our judgment upon others, if we deem them immoral? Are we the passive bystander who would do nothing to stop torture? Ho w can we be just?