Final answer:
The superintendent of the mines is likened to a king due to his absolute power over the convicts, extending to harsh punishments like whipping, which are considered severe compared to food deprivation and confinement. The account of child labor in coal mines underscores the harsh realities of forced labor at the expense of education. Moreover, the extensive work required in agrarian societies underscores the demanding nature of traditional farming practices. The correct answer is b.
Step-by-step explanation:
The superintendent of the mines is referred to as "a king in his dominions" because he wields absolute authority over the convicts and their conditions, just as a king rules over his subjects without opposition. The liberating laws that could benefit the convicts are overshadowed by the superintendent's absolute power, making his position comparable to that of a monarch within his realm. This encompassing control includes the arbitrary dispensation of punishments, where lenient measures like privation of food and confinement in a dark cell are viewed as minor or childish punishments compared to the harsher practice of whipping with a cat-o'-nine-tails. This distinction in punishment severity indicates not only the cruel hierarchy of disciplinary methods but also the desensitization to violence within this penal labor environment.
Similarly, child labor in coal mines paints a grim picture of the exploitation of young lives, wherein children spent their supposed school years laboring intensively, highlighting the stark contrast between education and forced labor. Furthermore, the aspects of agrarian discipline are portrayed through the exhaustive and intricate tasks associated with crop cultivation and the societal reliance on such labor-intensive practices. The correct answer is b.