Essay Questions

How does the allegory of the eagles and the chickens reflect the philosophy of Friedrich Nietzsche?

Nietzsche calls modern man "weak" in his sensibilities, instead looking forward to a "super-man" (übermensch) who will transcend the boundaries of human morality and instead use his own strength to create his own meaning. This übermensch has the right (self-bestowed and justifiable) to do with the lowly and base humans whatever he wishes, insofar as it benefits himself. The groundwork for this argument is the proposition that the state of the great man is more important than the state of the lesser men.

Hatch's allegory of the eagles and the chickens has a strong correlation to Nietzsche's philosophy. The Glows are the master race, and the rest of humanity exists to further their aims. It's interesting to note, however, that Hatch nominally does not include himself in this master race but actually wants to control all of them. Nietzsche, on the other hand, completely and genuinely believed that he was not a great man, looking forward to submitting to the eventual Übermensch.

How does Hatch twist truth to suit his own purposes?

Hatch is a master manipulator; he gives persuasive arguments for his side, making them appear good and wholesome while hiding their darker aspects. For example, when convincing Taylor to join Elgen Academy, he says, "Change is always hard, but that doesn't mean it's not good. Usually the hard things in our life lead to good" (Ch. 21). In this instance, he is speaking truth about the transformative value of suffering and change in life. His intent, however, is not the pursuit of goodness, but the manipulation of power. This irony is similar to that which Shakespeare notes in The Merchant of Venice: "The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose" (I.3.107).

Why does Michael wind up in the titular Cell 25?

In order to free his friends, Michael signs a deal with Hatch that allows Hatch to use his powers to further his nefarious purposes. When Hatch asks Michael to kill Wade, however, Michael refuses to do so, breaking his contract and his halfhearted allegiance to Hatch. In retribution, Hatch sends him to Cell 25, which is essentially a torture cell, to make him rethink his decision in agony. It is interesting to question whether Michael deserved his punishment; clearly, he shouldn't have killed Wade, but some (including Kant) might argue that making the contract with Hatch in the first place, not to mention breaking it, deserves punishment of such a sort.