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The electric fence surrounding Camp 14 is a grim symbol of the repression and brutality that characterized Shin’s life in the prison, as well as life for all North Koreans living under the Kim dynasty. When Shin ultimately escapes Camp 14 (or escapes for the last time, in light of his 2015 testimony), his friend Park Young Chul is killed by the electric fence, and Shin uses Park’s body to shield himself from being electrocuted as well. In this way the fence and Park’s death emphasize the brutal reality of Shin’s life—in order for him to survive and escape, it’s sometimes necessary for others to die: first Shin’s mother and brother, and finally Park.
The Electric Fence Quotes in Escape from Camp 14
The Escape from Camp 14 quotes below all refer to the symbol of The Electric Fence. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
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Chapter 15
Quotes
What he remembers most clearly about crawling through the fence was that Park's body smelled like it was burning.
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The Electric Fence Symbol Timeline in Escape from Camp 14
The timeline below shows where the symbol The Electric Fence appears in Escape from Camp 14. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 14: Preparing to Run
...Park develop a plan to escape from Camp 14. Shin will get them over the fence, and Park will lead them to China, where his uncle will sneak them into South...
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Chapter 15: The Fence
...for a fire. It is an extraordinary coincidence that they’re working so close to the fence that day—as a result of their assignment, they can run to the fence and then...
(full context)
Around four pm, Shin and Park sneak towards the fence, which is about ten feet high and consists of strands of electrified barbed wire spaced...
(full context)
It’s unclear how Shin survived the electric fence, but it appears that Park’s body transmitted the electric current from the fence into the...
(full context)
