DIGITAL FORTRESS : Themes and motifs
1. National Security vs. An Individual’s Right to Privacy:
The novel delves into the clash between national security and individual privacy rights. Susan Fletcher, a cryptographer at the NSA, supports the agency’s mission to protect the country and believes in granting them complete access to communications. However, Ensei Tankado, a former NSA employee and Susan’s colleague, strongly disagrees with this viewpoint. Tankado, who worked on the top-secret decryption computer TRANSLTR, becomes outraged when he discovers that the NSA plans to use it to intercept private citizens’ emails. He resigns and threatens to expose TRANSLTR to the public. In response, Commander Strathmore, Susan’s boss, has Tankado captured and expelled. Tankado then claims to have developed a program capable of generating unbreakable codes, using it as leverage to coerce Strathmore into revealing TRANSLTR’s existence.
2. Revenge:
Ensei Tankado, whose mother suffered from radiation after the Hiroshima bombing, grows up with a deep desire for revenge against the country that caused his family’s suffering. However, his hatred subsides as he studies World War II and embraces forgiveness through Buddhism. Working at the NSA, Tankado becomes outraged when he discovers that a top-secret project involves accessing personal emails. He quits his job and vows to expose the project to the public. Commander Strathmore, fearing the consequences, has Tankado captured and deported. Tankado then claims to have created an unbreakable program called Digital Fortress to blackmail Strathmore. Strathmore, skeptical, arranges for Tankado’s assassination but later realizes the program is a hoax. As Tankado dies, he regrets seeking revenge and acknowledges the catastrophic consequences that will ensue.
3. Ambitious pride:
Commander Trevor Strathmore is a highly ambitious man driven by an immense sense of pride. His career takes a hit when it is exposed that he covertly introduced a vulnerability into an NSA encryption program, which was intended to become a national standard. Strathmore defends his actions, arguing that the public’s insistence on privacy will eventually lead to regrets.
Believing that absolute access to all communication is essential for national security, Strathmore resents the public’s perception of the NSA as an adversary. His main objective is to enable the NSA to control digital information without public knowledge.
When Strathmore learns about a program developed by Tankado that can create unbreakable codes, he sees an opportunity to manipulate the situation for his benefit. He devises a plan to assassinate Tankado, acquire the program’s pass code, introduce a back door, and sell the modified version to a Japanese software company. In pursuing his scheme, he also plans to eliminate Susan’s fiancé, David, as he is infatuated with her and believes removing David will allow him to have Susan for himself. However, Strathmore’s insatiable ambition leads to his downfall, shattering his aspirations and consuming him entirely.
INTRODUCTION 
CURIOSITY & SUSPENSE PLOT SUMMARY
CRITICAL ANALYSIS IMPORTANT CHARACTERS CLIFFHANGERS IN THE NOVEL
