Pecking Order of Litchfield Penitentiary
Those with wealth and political clout tend to have more power than the majority of people living in America today. Those “higher ups” can do whatever they wish based on their standing. In the episode of Orange Is the New Black called “I Wasn’t Ready” there is a strict hierarchy within the prison that symbolizes how the top percent treat others poorly for their own gain or entertainment.
When Piper first enters the prison, Litchfield Penitentiary, she is sized-up by one of the older inmates named Miss Claudette, and she is warned by Morello to stay on Miss Claudette’s good side. Although the viewer does not understand the full meaning behind Morello’s warning, we can assume this is a forewarning of what is to come. We can see throughout the episode that the prison life is harsher than it appears. There is basically almost zero political correctness throughout the facility, as seen by the staff and inmates alike partaking in sexual activities throughout the episode. Such an environment really brings out the worst in people; moreso, this dog eat dog world really helps create a standard level system within the prison. Since Miss Claudette is one of the oldest inmates, she has an aura around her that is basically saying, “If you mess with me you are going to regret it.” Thus, it is up to Piper whether or not she heeds the warning of Morello to stay within her bounds or ‘class’ as she is fresh blood within the prison.
Once Piper arrives to finally meet her prison counselor, Healy, he tells her that no one will mess with her unless she lets them. Basically, Healy is saying that once one understands the cycle of life within the prison, they can start to move their way up through favors and taking sides. This portrays the idea that just like the outside world, the lowest caste gets roughed up for others gains until they move up and sustain the cycle. There is no officer or leading figure to stop such behavior, in fact, it is actually emphasized within the episode that such action is natural within the prison.
It doesn’t take long for Piper to mistakenly criticize the food made by the chef named Red and get a bloody tampon in her food as retribution for not keeping quiet. All of the inmates around her make fun of her for doing something as idiotic as biting the hand that serves her. The other inmates clearly state that “you gotta make it right with Red or this will keep happening.” This clearly shows that Piper, although bright, is still a beginner to the lifestyle changes that were inflicted upon her when she was sent to this women’s prison. She has to keep her head down and accept that she is not in the same position as she was in the outside world. In her home with her spouse Larry she wanted to be “…the nice blond lady that I was supposed to be.” But, in the prison, brutality has already taken its toll.
In the end, the viewer experiences the tension and stress Piper feels when entering this new prison world and its social standards. The gritty awareness that Orange Is the New Black depicts really gives a sense of reality to the show. It is like the show almost hits too close to home with its portrayal of the disgusting way human nature morphs when in such a dangerous setting. And, overall the grueling ways the characters are portrayed creates the idea that those with power are truly the most brutal.
