State Apparatuses and the Politics of Power in Omar Shahid Hamid's The Prisoner (2013)

Louis Althusser's concept of interpellation explains how people become ideological subjects through the influence of social institutions. He argues that ideology works through Ideological State Apparatuses (ISAs), such as political, religious, legal, and educational institutions, which shape people's beliefs, values, and behaviour. Alongside these are Repressive State Apparatuses (RSAs), including the police and the military, which rely on force or the threat of force to maintain authority when necessary. Together, these institutions help preserve existing power relations by making the ruling ideology appear natural and unquestionable. This study analyzes Omer Shahid Hamid's The Prisoner (2013) using Althusser's concepts of Ideological State Apparatuses, Repressive State Apparatuses, and interpellation. It explores how political institutions shape individuals' thinking and maintain state power through ideology. Using qualitative textual analysis, the study examines themes of corruption, terrorism, institutional power, and social inequality in the novel. It argues that ideology works through both persuasion and coercion, allowing unequal power structures to continue. The findings show that The Prisoner exposes the ways state institutions justify their authority, reinforce social hierarchies, and influence the identities and actions of individuals, offering a critical perspective on the relationship between ideology, power, and contemporary Pakistani society.