In Penal Colony Discussion on Narration

The narration of the recital is in third person finished the adventurer. The explorers thoughts and emotions atomic number 18 known by the narrator but the other characters minds stick outnot be read. Even though the narration is through through the explorer, there are many instances where we do not know what the explorer is thinking, therefore this can be classified as limited omniscient, moreover, the narrator in the story does not show any emotional attachment to the tied(p)ts around him or comment on the legality of what is taking place rather he simply describes the proceedings in a very monotonous way.For example, when the explorer finds out that the condemned man will be put to death by a machine without any chance of defending himself or having his pureness or guilt proven, the narrator shows no reaction to this unjust act. He continues to understate situations which would normally cause some type of reaction. Perhaps this is done intentionally so as to not influence t he reader and let the reader formulate their own thoughts.But, by being a resistless bystander as the events unfold, one does feel a sense of helplessness and even some guilt as this line shows The explorer wanted to intervene and possibly bring the whole thing to a standstill this was no torture such as the officer wished to achieve, this was outright murder. (p. 73). This event, where the officer dies, is called a murder as the original purpose of the machine, to execute over 12 hours is not realized. The explorer is impressed by the officers idolatry to the machine but the lack of action makes the narrator untrustworthy.