House of Stairs

As the novel transitions into Part 2, new narrative stakes are introduced. The characters’ personalities and relationships are now established. As a result, new plot advancements push them to explore different aspects of their identities, moral growth, and social dynamics. The purpose of the machine also becomes clearer as it sets up new challenges for the protagonists. This announces a shift in the narrative’s tone to reflect the characters’ moral dilemma.

At the beginning of Part 2, the teenagers share some insights into their personal lives and interests. Oliver, for instance, tells them about a fight he won against another boy. Significantly, Oliver attempts to paint himself in heroic terms, arguing that he was only defending his honor and showing off his strength. However, the altercation also reveals his tendency toward violence and domination (or Power and Control), which foreshadows his future cruelty.

Peter, on the other hand, opens up about his love for books, but the others ridicule him for it. In addition to Peter’s desire for escapism, the passage reinforces the narrative’s position on The Social Impact of Authoritarianism. The teenagers prefer media that is programmed to respond to their needs and pace over written books, and Oliver comments that “watching a real-life hologram right before your eyes is better than anything you could imagine” (77). His argument is reminiscent of other works of speculative science fiction like George Orwell’s 1984 or Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451, in which social conditioning is enforced through control of the media. House of Stairs carries on this literary legacy, which reinforces its message about the importance of developing empathy and critical thinking skills. This foreshadows Peter’s ability to later take a moral stand against the machine despite his frailty and timidity.

Narratively speaking, Lola’s realization about the machine leads to a crucial moral and ethical question: “And what kind of thing would they begin to do now; now that they were going to be starved into becoming one another’s deadly enemies?” (103). At this point in the novel, Lola and Blossom have their respective moral stances clear—Lola in arguing for The Importance of Compassion and Solidarity, Blossom in demonstrating selfishness and cruelty. However, the other characters are more morally ambiguous, which heightens narrative tension and anticipation. Peter, Oliver, and Abigail all display both positive and negative qualities, so their choices are heavily influenced by their ability and willingness to resist authoritarianism. Despite Abigail’s efforts to be a model citizen, for example, she eventually gives in to peer pressure because she is violently punished if she does not conform to the machine’s demands. The protagonists’ inherent moral ambivalence, which is very human, underlines the power that alienation and fear can have over even well-intended individuals.

Building on the tension created by the machine’s new demands, Peter’s unexpected choice creates surprise and intrigue. For the first time in the novel, Peter acts independently and explicitly rejects Oliver’s influence, a symbolic move that signals his emotional growth. Peter and Lola make a pact to resist the machine together, which contributes to the theme of The Importance of Compassion and Solidarity. Significantly, Lola tells Peter: “Even I probably couldn’t do it by myself. I need you, if it’s going to work. You are essential” (107). The whole conversation between Peter and Lola models how empathy can be used to reclaim Power and Control over one’s agency. Lola’s friendship empowers Peter, who, in turn, becomes more assertive. Importantly, this passage takes place after Lola breaks down, feeling more isolated and powerless than before. Peter’s proposal, therefore, empowers Lola as well, and it is only through their promise to support each other that the two of them are able to resist the machine for so long. Incidentally, Lola helps Peter understand the purpose of his daydreams better, which confirms their symbolism as an escape from reality. In short, Peter has gained confidence, and Lola has learned to rely on others, which furthers their character arcs and sets up the final confrontation between the two groups.