Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Power, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Power and Violence
Corruption
Gender Reversals and Sexism
Stories, History, and Perspective
Religion and Manipulation
Revolution and Social Change
Summary
Analysis
Four years later, the war in Moldova is still going on. Tatiana Moskalev holds a dinner and reception at her castle to drum up support for her side of the war. Among the guests are Margot, Roxy, Eve, and Tunde. Tunde interviews Margot, asking why she’s there. Margot says that the United States takes interest when a democratically elected leader like Tatiana is ousted in a military coup. Tunde notes that Margot (now a United States Senator) has deep connections with NorthStar, which may have played a part in why she was chosen to attend the party.
Nine years after the power was first discovered, Alderman brings together her main characters. She demonstrates how these characters’ lives (particularly the women’s lives) have so drastically shifted as a result of this new ability. Without it, none of them would be where they currently are. They are the epitome of how the ability to hurt branches into different forms of power: political in Margot’s case, religious in Eve’s, and economic in Roxy’s.
Themes
When Tunde shuts off his camera, Margot warns him not to come after her. As she walks away, she wonders how no one has mentioned that Tunde is so successful because he’s very handsome. She lets her mind wander and thinks that she should pick up one of her young staff members after the party.
The gender reversals also start to dip into sexist stereotypes: for example, Margot believing that Tunde could only hold the job that he has because he is attractive (rather than on his intellectual merits), and her view of the junior male staffers largely as sex objects.
Themes
Margot then goes to meet Tatiana Moskalev, who is sitting on a literal throne. She has a plethora of rings, a white fur coat, and a gold dress on. They greet each other politely. Tatiana speaks about how Bessapara is the “most forward-thinking country in the world.” She elaborates that it is the only country that understands what this change really means.
Tatiana Moskalev is the most explicit example of how power is a corrupting force. People believed that she would make a better ruler than her husband and at first she was motivated by improving life for women, but she, too, falls prey to the trappings of power and wants to make sure that she can remain in power.
Themes
Tatiana tells Margot that all Bessapara wants is to live freely to pursue their own way of life. She asks for American aid against the North. Margot tells her that she can’t promise to interfere, even though America supports Bessapara’s independence. Tatiana then asks if Bessapara can hire NorthStar girls as a private army. Margot knows this is worth a lot of money. In exchange, Tatiana asks for American support for upcoming changes to its laws, which will “prevent more traitors giving away [their] secrets to the North.” Margot agrees.
Tatiana also lures Margot into her scheme of corruption. Margot is motivated more by her desire to gain power and money using the NorthStar camps than by her desire to promote justice. Tatiana later goes on to curtail male freedoms, and Margot has essentially given her carte blanche to change laws in whatever way she sees fit.
Themes
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The rest of the party is boring; Margot simply fulfills her diplomatic duties. She leaves at 10:30 p.m., and on her way to the car, she bumps into Tunde again. She asks if he wants a ride, but he politely refuses. Instead, at the hotel, Margot buys a few drinks for one of the younger guys from the American embassy. She gropes him as they ride the elevator to her suite.
Only because of the change in power dynamics is Margot given license to take these actions. And reading this kind of assault with the typical genders reversed again reminds readers of the unnerving nature of these actions.
Themes
