Tea Bowl

The tea bowl throw by the police officer symbolizes aggressive corruption of purported ethics. After a police officer wantonly throws a bowl of tea at Chiu in the town square, Chiu comments that the officer is supposed to protect citizens, not harass them. The officer and his partner respond by unjustly arresting Chiu.

Imprisonment

Chiu’s imprisonment symbolizes Chiu’s helplessness in the face of widespread corruption and oppression. Chiu has no recourse against his false imprisonment, as the police state has conspired to hold him captive if he does not cooperate with their unjust commands.

Torture

The police’s torture of Fenjin symbolizes the profound cruelty caused by the deep systemic corruption of the police as an institution. The police are willing to torture Fenjin to coerce Chiu to sign a false statement of self-criticism and apology. This disparity highlights the extremes to which...