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In The Penal Colony

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Over the years there have been several groups of people who have migrated from their home region to another, as well as individuals who have traveled the world as mere observers. In doing so, these people have witnessed customs which, in some scenarios, are similar to those of their own; but for the most part vary immensely from the customs they are used to. Under circumstances of the latter, these migrators and travelers find it challenging to conform to the traditions and values associated with lands other than that their own. “In the Penal Colony” is one of many literary works that demonstrates this dilemma, in which individuals struggle with cultural adjustment. “In the Penal Colony,” by Franz Kafka, is a short story in which we learn of a Traveler who visits a land foreign to his own. Upon his visit, he meets the Officer who explains the judicial system of his land. This involves the use of an apparatus created under the Old Commandant, in which the person charged with a crime has his sentence …show more content…

The author points out that the Traveler did not deem it necessary to voice his opinion, as he felt that everyone would simply regard him as a foreigner and unable to give proper outlook on the circumstances due to contrasting customs. In this sense, a citizen of the colony is the only individual who can make a solid argument for or against this judicial procedure, as he is more accustomed to the way his/her society operates. Moreover, lacking citizenship in a certain area deprives one of expertise regarding culture and tradition, thus forcing them to be silenced rather than to voice their opinion. In “In the Penal Colony,” the Traveler experienced these circumstances, which forced him to keep his thoughts to himself and simply overlook the judicial actions done in this colony. As a result, the Traveler’s actions served primarily as observations as opposed to any means of

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