Bleakly comedic in their parody of bureaucratic conventions, the letters between Arch Lector Sult and Glokta constitute an important motif in the text, illuminating the themes of The Dehumanizing Force of Institutional Power and The Illusion of Control in a Chaotic World. Glokta writes to Sult in an attempt to gain control over a reality that is beyond him; he requests his superior for money and reinforcements, ending his letters with messages such as, “Until then, I serve and obey” (87). Glokta’s obedience is met with silence from Sult, or the occasional missive refusing his requests and asking Glokta to make do with what he has. Sult’s letters clearly tell Glokta that he has no control over the situation and is only present in Dagoska as a cog. In his final letter to Glokta in Dagoska, Sult abruptly orders him to “leave immediately” (364), making his departure as whimsical as his arrival.

The letters show Glokta trying to playact subservience while growing frustrated with the lack of help in Dagoska. Yet, Glokta cannot openly speak his mind for fear of defying institutional power, which demonstrates the subjugation of the individual by the institution. Indeed, when Glokta does express his opinion to Sult in person, telling him that Tulkis is innocent, Sult begins to froth at the mouth in anger, calling Glokta a “crippled shred of a man” (513), and remarking, “who cares a shit for the innocent” (513). In contrast to his curt but relatively polite tone in the letters, Sult’s outburst reflects his real self and brings home for Glokta the corruption of the institution he serves.