Power's a pretty vague word, but here it sticks to a pretty simple form: power over other people. This might not always be a bad thing—you know, like, what would you do if your mom didn't stop you from putting your fingers near the fire as a kid? But Westmark shows examples of power used in both beneficial and harmful ways—and like pretty much everything else in this book, it all comes down to who's wielding it and for what purpose.
Cabbarus uses power for his own selfish ends, but Florian utilizes his for good—at least as he sees it. There are different kinds of power in the mix, too—actors over audiences, and masters over servants, to name a few. On second though, we take back what we said earlier about power being pretty simple (but don't worry—we're here to help you sort it out).
Questions About Power
- What kind of influence does Las Bombas have over his different audiences? What about him is so convincing?
- What is the nature of the power Florian holds over both his Children and the town of Freyborg?
- What kind of power does Keller have in his cartoon of Old Kasperl? How do political cartoons function in our society and in Westmark?
- What do you think the balance of political power should look like in an ideal society in Westmark?
Chew on This
Cabbarus is a good example of too much power in the hands of one person being more dangerous than is worth it.
Power dynamics don't just come in the guise of politics, but in every aspect of life in the small towns of Westmark.