Incarceron

Cages and prisons symbolize incarceration and develop The Ambiguity of Imprisonment and Freedom. Besides the literal prison of Incarceron, the novel makes frequent reference to small cages, such as the birdcage and fake bird that the Warden gifts to Claudia. The gift is beautiful, but Claudia “scowls” at it, demonstrating her disdain for the beautiful “prison” of societal expectations that restricts her daily life and long-term plans. Although Claudia is not in Incarceron, her “freedom” is constantly called into question through recurring imagery of cages, prisons, restrictive clothing, and other types of confinement. Places that are not strictly prisons are nonetheless referred to as such in order to emphasize the lack of liberty that all of the characters suffer, regardless of whether they are officially incarcerated. For example, Jared calls Sia’s palace a “prison” for him and Claudia, although according to conventional wisdom, a palace life is commonly touted as one of the most desirable situations to enjoy. However, the palace resembles a prison in many ways, for both characters are under constant surveillance, and their safety depends on them following a suite of unreasonable rules. The repeated