Metaphor for Conformity and Unity
The Ancillaries are host bodies that the A.I. commanders of the Radch Empire inhabit to man the immense starships that house the massive computer-bodies of the A.I.’s.Ancillaries function with a kind of hive-consciousness although they are organized using military hierarchies with some ancillaries serving as higher ranking officers. These clone officers operate with a certain degree of independent thought and develop certain unique quirks but that is the exception rather than the rule; as a whole they will always operate with the good of the majority and as such the ancillaries become metaphorical for conformity and unity.
Metaphor for Individuality and Humanity
The character One Esk/Breq is the last surviving ancillary of the ship A.I. The Justice of Toren. Despite being an ancillary she exhibits a number of characteristics that were not intended for her by the ship’s Medic; case in point, her love for music and songs despite not having been cloned to have a singer’s voice. Moreover, One Esk/Breq, also has a predilection “gathering” as many songs as she can from human communities she visits while on her quest for vengeance. Despite being largely emotionally crippled she takes great delight in learning these songs and seeing how vastly different each song is from planet to planet and culture to culture. This quirk makes her unique among her clone brethren so music, songs, and singing are metaphors for individuality and a significant tie to her humanity, as it is the distinctive mark that humanizes her.
Metaphor for Prejudice
Tea is the favored and favorite beverage of many humans throughout the Radch Empire and although widely consumed its consumption is restricted to humans and VIP’s only. Ancillaries, despite their vast numbers and their importance to the A.I.’s are only given water to drink as tea is considered to be “wasted” on them. The humble beverage therefore becomes the unlikely metaphor for prejudice because of its use as a means of conspicuous consumption and social status.
Metaphor for Oppression
Anaander Miaanai is the supreme authority over every aspect of life in the Radch Empire, period. She gained this power via canny political maneuvering and ruthless military conquest. Her vast army of ancillaries share one mind and this allows her to effectively rule over all that she oversees. Having such vast power and access to such immense resources effectively make her a god and after so many millennia of being unopposed Anaander Miaanai begins to believe in her own absolute righteousness. Even if she decides on planetary genocide, she feels no remorse over it as she truly believes that anything and everything she decides on is inherently good despite questionable means. She therefore becomes the metaphor for oppression for her ruthlessness and desire for total domination.
Metaphor for Vengeance
The Garseddai Gun is one of the few weapons capable of totally destroying Radchaai battleships and battle armor. These immensely powerful weapons were created by the enigmatic alien race known as the Presger and only twenty five of these were ever created. Twenty four of these weapons were seized and Planet Garsedd and its people annihilated for daring to against the Radch Empire. Esk One/Breq seeks out this weapon not just for its effectivity against the Radch but also because of a sense of poetic justice, as such the Garseddai Gun becomes a metaphor for vengeance.
