Which description best matches the Panopticon?

• A. Complete isolation - no talking and constant isolation
• B. A multi-tiered design with a central tower and continuous supervision
• C. Inmates eat and work together in silence
• D. Open dormitory with shared meals

Answer: (B)

The Panopticon is a prison design built around centralized surveillance: a multi-tiered structure with a central watchtower that allows an observer to see all inmates at once, while the inmates cannot tell when they are being watched. This arrangement creates constant visibility, prompting inmates to regulate their own behavior even when guards aren’t visible. That combination of a central tower, radiating spaces, and ongoing supervision is exactly what makes the description fit. The other options describe isolation, silent systems, or open dormitory arrangements, none of which capture the core surveillance-driven dynamics of the Panopticon.