We could spend a lot of time debating where true power lies in Costaguana's universe. At first, it seems like wealth is the key to getting anything you want done in that country… but then, on second thought, it doesn't appear to be enough to ensure political stability for more than five minutes. Oh, and political power seems to be, er, fleeting at best.
You could make an argument that Nostromo actually has quite a lot of power, compared to other characters in Nostromo: A Tale of the Seaboard, since everyone seems to need him and listen to him. However, there's still the fact that people treat him just as a tool to get what they want, rather than his own person. Bottom line: it's hard to keep hold of power when everyone around you is vying for it.
Questions About Power
- Who do you think has the most power in Costaguana: rich people, politicians, or Nostromo? How do we know?
- What about religion? What is the nature of its power on Costaguana? How does it measure up to wealth, political power, or reputation?
- Is power ever benevolent or admirable within Nostromo's universe?
Chew on This
Power is great while you have it, but it's impossible to hold onto forever—so, you'd be better off preoccupying yourself with stuff that can actually do some good.
Wealth is definitely the most powerful force in the novel—just the mere prospect of getting it drives people out of their minds.