The Palace Thief: Symbols

Symbols are objects, characters, figures, or colors used to represent abstract ideas or concepts.

The Conquered Peoples

Deepak Mehta is able to answer the final question in the first “Mr. Julius Caesar” competition because he voluntarily studied all the cultures the Romans conquered, information that Mr. Hundert doesn't even consider important enough to teach. This detail reflects the fact that most people have no interest in the people who lost wars. History is the story of winners, much like current events are stories of the rich and powerful. It is only deep thinkers who remember the names of the conquered peoples, and according to the story, they are unable to apply what they've learned in the real world.

Myopia

Mr. Hundert explains that myopia, or nearsightedness, kept him from being drafted and going to war, which is why he went directly to work at a school after college. While myopia is the physical condition of being able to see things up close clearly and those far away less distinctly, Mr. Hundert’s ideological focus is on the past. For Mr. Hundert, the current world before him is blurry, while the past is clear and unquestionably true.

Historical Figures

In his narration, Mr. Hundert often name-drops real-life historical figures, such as Henry L. Stimson, his example of a powerful young man that St. Benedict’s has developed. He fails to tell the whole story, showing his tendency to focus on people's power, rather than the substance of who they are. Mr. Hundert mentions that Stimson created the plaque that hangs above his classroom door, but he fails to mention that Stimson also oversaw the construction of the first atomic bombs.

Julius Caesar

The “Mr. Julius Caesar” contests make up much of the story and also represent the highest achievement in Mr. Hundert's class. In Roman history, Julius Caesar rose through the ranks of politics, using each advancement to amass more power, and eventually established a dictatorship. Soon after, senators who feared his growing power assassinated him. In the halls of St. Benedict's, Mr. Hundert sees himself as a kind of Julius Caesar, slowly forming alliances and winning small battles, rising to the ranks of headmaster until he is eventually taken down by his own men.

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