Ah, freedom… The ability to do whatever you want. Sweet deal, right? Not so much in Westmark. Theo can't even print a pamphlet for Las Bombas without getting shut down by the government, while Cabbarus keeps the king cooped up—and sick—in the palace, so that the chief minister can take control of things. Power is a major player in this book, and it raises all kinds of questions about who should be able to confine people—both physical and mentally—in addition to calling into question whether absolute freedom is possible in organized society.
Questions About Freedom and Confinement
- Why was Cabbarus's censorship so effective in making life hard for people as varied as Anton, Keller, and Florian?
- What does Theo freeing Las Bombas, Musket, and Mickle from their imprisonment symbolize in Theo's life?
- Does monarchy inherently prohibit people from having full freedom? Would Florian's suggested revolution make anything better, in your opinion? Would some people still not be free?
- Why did the author use freedom of the press to symbolize all of the government's tyranny?
Chew on This
Restricting freedoms was Cabbarus's most effective way of maintaining his power.
Theo confined himself to very strict views of people before he met Las Bombas, and his subsequent maturation was a result of his opening his mind.