House of Stairs

Several elements in House of Stairs offer insight into the concepts of power and control and how they can impact social interactions. The setting of the novel is a symbolic representation of a surveillance-based, disciplinary society that relies on control to exert power over its subjects. Abigail, for instance, has been molded into a model citizen for an authoritarian society, as she has been conditioned to “always [consider] what boys thought of her, or what the other girls in her group would think, [and tries] to avoid doing whatever might hurt someone, or make her disliked” (81-82). The narrative, therefore, implies that the consequences of stepping out of the enforced social norm include ostracization and violent punishment.

In the house of stairs, the machine has power over the protagonists—and, through it, Dr. Lawrence and the authorities that enable him. In fact, Dr. Lawrence states that he was mandated to conduct his experiment by the president himself, who wants to create an elite—that is, obedient and uncritical—group of operatives. To do so, Dr. Lawrence conditions the five teenagers through surveillance, psychological manipulation, punishment, starvation, and, ultimately, physical violence. Significantly, Lola argues that rewards are more effective than punishments in influencing an individual’s behavior, which she figures out while helping Peter resist his trances. However, she actually rewards Peter for exercising his agency, which goes against the authoritarian drive toward conformity and submissiveness.

As for the characters themselves, each of them has a different relationship to authority, and, therefore, to power and control. As a former member of the ruling class, for instance, Blossom is used to having a certain amount of freedom. Now lacking control over her circumstances, she instead exerts power over the others. She is particularly skilled at emotional manipulation and often weaponizes a character’s words or actions against themselves. She goads Lola into talking negatively about the others, for example, and uses that information to later undermine Lola’s power.

In addition, Lola is very independent and has issues with authority that socially hindered her when she lived in the orphanage. Significantly, however, those traits help her remain critical in the house of stairs and enable her to naturally take on a leading role. In that regard, she is Oliver’s symbolic opposite. Indeed, the young boy initially seems confident and in control. However, as the situation grows more and more desperate, he is revealed to actually be very insecure. His inexperience with girls, for example, leads him to abuse Abigail’s trust and be thrown off by Lola’s confidence. He also enjoys the power he seems to hold over Peter, more so because it flatters his ego than out of genuine care. When Peter rejects Oliver’s help and joins Lola, Oliver becomes even more individualistic and controlling over Abigail.

In short, the narrative explores different types of power and control through each of the protagonists. Additionally, both the house of stairs and the machine are implements of power and control, creating a scenario that reveals how each character wields power and responds to others who have power over them. The novel’s ending suggests that authoritarian power encourages social alienation and individual repression. This reality is exemplified by Blossom, Oliver, and Abigail, who end up unfit to live in society anymore and unable to connect with anyone. On the other hand, Peter grows more powerful and more in control over his own choices thanks to Lola’s support, which conveys The Importance of Compassion and Solidarity.