Island

Western consumerism contrasts with the much more authentic, Palanese search for happiness. Murugan embodies Western consumerism. We see this in his desire to industrialize Pala and when reading the Sears catalog, given to him by Colonel Dipa. Will likens Dipa to the serpent from the Garden of Eden, replacing the Tree of Life with the Tree of Consumer Goods (163). Will recognizes that Dipa is grooming Murugan’s desire to possess things. Nothing will lead to Westernization more than initiating people into its consumer culture.

Pala is a foil for the West. In Pala, a citizen’s quality of life is not defined by the accumulation of goods. Envy and greed still exist to some extent, as they are inherent to the human condition. However, they don’t flourish. Pala’s citizens are conditioned from a young age to value themselves and achieve self-actualization. Murugan’s catalog appeals to the lesser aspects of his personality. It exemplifies the ways Western consumerism infiltrates unsuspecting populations. It is a more subtle form of colonialism, conducted by a corporation rather than a government.

The leaders of Pala accept the risk posed by rampant consumerism and concede that perhaps Pala will one day fall to it as many other nations do.