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The Traveler’s actions demonstrate his cowardice and lack of conviction. He never tries to intervene on behalf of the condemned man even though he knows the man was never fairly tried or even given an opportunity to defend himself. Failing to at least help the condemned man after being horrified at the miscarriage of justice shows the Traveler’s craven apathy and lack of moral fortitude. When asked to judge the justice of the apparatus, the Traveler demurs and blames the hot sun for his lack of clarity. He is befuddled by his surroundings. When the Traveler ultimately refuses to support the Officer and advocate for his barbaric apparatus or the flawed judicial system the Officer supports, he does nothing to try to change the system or help those who are oppressed by it. Although he implies that speaking to the Commandant privately is his way of helping the Officer, his intentions are actually those of a coward who refuses to take a public stand. By leaving the island and aggressively fending off any attempt by the soldier and the condemned man to leave with him, the Traveler shows that he is a coward whose sole focus is escape.

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