# How does The Jewels of Aptor develop the theme of Power and Corruption?

> The Jewels of Aptor by Samuel R. Delany

## Answer

The Jewels of Aptor by Samuel R. Delany develops Power and Corruption across the chapters the companion marks for this theme.

The jewels of Aptor grant immense power, but their use is tied to manipulation, betrayal, and violence, as seen in Jordde's spying and the blind priestesses' worship of death.

The jewel's power is demonstrated by Argo, and the priestesses' rituals suggest corruption through the use of force and manipulation.

The priestess's authority over the captain and her use of the jewel suggest a dynamic of power, while the loss of men at Aptor hints at corruption or misuse of that power.

The jewels are described as sources of immense power, capable of destruction, and the priestess refuses to entrust them to Geo for fear of capture and misuse.

## Evidence

- [the-jewels-of-aptor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jewels_of_aptor_se/chapters/the-jewels-of-aptor.md): The jewel's power is demonstrated by Argo, and the priestesses' rituals suggest corruption through the use of force and manipulation.
- [i](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jewels_of_aptor_se/chapters/i.md): The priestess's authority over the captain and her use of the jewel suggest a dynamic of power, while the loss of men at Aptor hints at corruption or misuse of that power.
- [ii](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jewels_of_aptor_se/chapters/ii.md): The jewels are described as sources of immense power, capable of destruction, and the priestess refuses to entrust them to Geo for fear of capture and misuse.
- [iii](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jewels_of_aptor_se/chapters/iii.md): Geo explicitly quotes 'Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely' in reference to Argo's motives.
- [viii](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jewels_of_aptor_se/chapters/viii.md): The Priestess describes how Hama's use of powerful instruments led to destruction, mirroring the cycle of power corrupting.
- [x](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jewels_of_aptor_se/chapters/x.md): Hama explains that the jewels are evil because the fear of losing freedom turns people into slaves of power, and even those who seek to destroy them become infected.
- [xi](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jewels_of_aptor_se/chapters/xi.md): The jewels' mind-control abilities and Hama's infection illustrate how power corrupts; the ancient voice warns against the temptation to use such power.

## Links

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