Ancillaries only drank water if there was any tea carried aboard their starships, it was reserved for officers, human dignitaries, and other important guests. In that regard, tea becomes symbolic of the tie that binds humans together and although many people drink tea all over the many planetary colonies in the Radch Empire, there is a notable exception: the ancillaries. Tea is a popular beverage and there is a well-entrenched, galaxy-spanning tea culture in the Intergalactic Radch Empire. It also becomes symbolic of defiance as its’ primary use is to topple a corrupt, murderous dictatorship.

Breq/One Esk wants the gun as an assassination weapon against Anaander Mianaai and as such the weapon becomes symbolic for personal vengeance and poetic justice for the people of Garsedaai. This act of planetary genocide is actually the spark that sets off the civil war in the Radch Empire and the Garseddai gun that Breq/One Esk desires to possess takes on multiple symbolic significance. Twenty four of the original guns were taken and Planet Garseddai destroyed. They made by the Presger race and is capable of punching through most any form of matter.Twenty-five of these super-weapons were originally made to be wielded by the leaders of Garsedd. This weapon is a relic from Empire’s distant past. This distinctive trait of hers therefore becomes symbolic of her individuality and a mark of her humanity. Although she is just one of many thousand ancillary clones, this fondness for music seems to be unique to her and her alone. The character One Esk/Breq, despite being a terrible singer, is constantly singing and is obsessed with learning as many songs as she can from the various cultures that she comes into contact with. Songs and singing are frequently encountered symbols within the novel. We are thankful for their contributions and encourage you to make your own. These notes were contributed by members of the GradeSaver community.

Ancillary justice