Master's Cutlass

The Master’s frantic command to 'substitute cutlass for rapier' before immediately canceling it symbolizes his desperate grasp for a weapon—any weapon—to reassert control. The cutlass, though never materialized, serves as a metaphor for his unraveling authority: a weapon that exists only in his panicked imagination, a fleeting attempt to cling to power. The cancellation of the command underscores his indecision and vulnerability, as even his own orders betray his lack of control. The object, though never physically present, becomes a narrative symbol of the Master’s crumbling dominance.