Extracting The Truth!
If they knew the truth before they extracted it, the fact that should Number 6 be elected as the new Number 2, that he would attempt to organise a mass breakout. So why put him through the 'Truth Test? Possibly to show Number 6 that they already knew what he would do if given the opportunity.
The truth of the matter being, that they already knew what Number 6 would do, before No.6 had even thought of it!
BcNu
In The Prisoner there are a number of scenes that rather graphically than metaphorically display the squaring of the circle. This, in fact, is an interesting symbol of the antinomy about the series which helped make it something special. Apart from the "truth test" in "Free For All" we can find the squaring-the-circle subject in "Arrival" on his visit to the Labour Exchange and in "Funeral" when No. 6 ist portraited by a painter. For more see the article on my website http://match-cut.de/spdln/spdln104.htm#spdlne - BCNU!
ReplyDeleteHello Arno,
DeleteA very interesting comment about squaring the circle, and how many times in 'the Prisoner' that actually occurs, and I'm sure readers will be much interested in reading more on your excelent webisite via the link you provided.
In the scene in the Labour Exchange Manager's office, when the Prisoner is faced with that aptitude test, it seems to me, and correct me if I'm wrong, that it's more a question of circling the square. Demonstrating how the Village, the square, can change to make Number 6, the circle, fit in.
Kind regards
David
BCNU
This is one of my favourite scenes.. confusing, and a hook for my mind. Because somewhere there must be a way to translate the Prisoners thoughts.. ;). I spent much time watching it again and again.
ReplyDeleteI've a got theory. To me it seems as if the circle moves when the prisoner denies to cooperate and/or rejects the answers of the labour manager. If there is a struggle inside of the Prisoner, both shapes move. So in this test truth might be seen as the truth of the village.
Kind regards
BCNU
Jana
Hello Jana,
DeleteThere is another way of looking at the scene of the 'truth test.' Number 2 telephones the Labour Exchange Manager to remind him not to damage the tissue. The Labour Exhange Manager fully understands, first stage only. So might not the 'truth test' not be another way of conditioning Number 6? Not extracting the truth, but actually putting the idea of attempting a mass break out if he were to be elected as the new Number 2 into his subconscious mind, by 'inception?
If the square and circle represent the struggle of co-operation and rejection, it is a struggle Number 6 loses, as he falls into unconsciousness. The circle and square, squaring the circle, being shaped to fit. It is possible that Number 6 is not struggling against the answers that the Labour Exchange Manager is suggesting, but struggling against the ideas he is attempting to implant in the subsconscious mind of Number 6 via 'inception?
Kind regards
David
Be seeing you
The saying goes "squaring the circle" but to me the real question is and stays: which of them represents No. 6? At first glance one would assume it's the square because of its corners and edges fitting more to the No. 6 personality while the cylinder is round and smooth. But is it? This is one of many remarkable ambivalent instances in the series. It is basically a metaphor for belonging or not belonging to a group, a community, a society. As the President says, "You've made us realise our mistakes." - BCNU!
ReplyDeleteHi David, hi Arno,
ReplyDeleteI totally agree, for me the whole point of the thruth test is brainwashing Number Six. In my opinion those variant points of views complement each other, don't they?
I also like the ambivalence in the question who is the circle. Perhaps it doesn't need to be resolved. To me it seems as if Number Six and the Village both are representing both.
Kind regards
BCNU
Jana
Hi Jana, hi Arno,
DeleteYou know how you get fixed in one train of thought, and then along comes some bright spark who throws a spanner into the works......Well I do not profess to be a bright spark, but here's a spanner.... I have always thought the Test in 'Free For All' is a truth test. But is that what we witness on the screen? After all Number 2 refers to it simply as "The Test." The Labour Exchange Manager doesn't need to conduct a truth test, as he already knows what Number 6 will do if elected to the position of Number 2. The test is more a form of brinwashing, conditioning, yes, but I thnk I was wrong to call it a truth test. Unless Number 6 was being conditioned to face up to the truth!
Regarding the circle and the square, I see Number 6 as the square, and it's up to the Village Administration to roughly hone the corners so that Number 6 would fit into the circle - the Village.
Kind regards
David
BCNU
Hi David!
ReplyDeleteI like that, might be a handy spanner! The labour manager refers to the test as a truth test, but see how honest he is being with Number Six! In fact I think it is what Number Six is wanted to believe, that this is a truth test. But perhaps all that is "tested" and made sure is that the Prisoner does not endanger the election campaign.
Regarding circle and square: It seems plausible to see it this way, looking at Rover, the Control Room and so on. In fact I thought so, too. But then the square could as well represent the window with the prison bars. And in Arrival there is a round stick that's put into a square hole. One interpretation could be that in this case the square represents the village that is capable to manage even round sticks. And in the Test the "truth" is represented by the square, and it is not the truth of Number Six.
This makes me think.
Kind regards!
BCNU,
Jana
Hi Jana,
DeleteOf course he did, the Labour Exchange Manager did refer to it as the truth test. Thank you for reminding me, the things one can forget!
Perhaps the whole of the election period is a test, as I'm not sure what Number 2 gained by it. The whole of the election period seems to me to be a very elaborate plan to go through for so little a result.
I like your idea and interpretation of the square and circle within 'the Prisoner.' I like the square prison window and the circuler bars, which in fact keep him prisoner. Without the circular bars, the way would be open for escape.
As for truth....doesn't Number 6 finally learn the truth about himself in 'Fall out?' That it has been himself that has been behind the Village all the time? That of course is if one subscribes to McGoohan's idea that Number 6 and Number 1 are the one and the same person.
Enjoy the rest of the weekend
Kind regards
David
BCNU
Hi David,
ReplyDeletethis is a very good point you made regarding the prison bars. I've never recognized that they are circular, too, of course they are. And they indeed prevent escape.
And I agree regarding Fall Out. Reading your comment also remembered me that there is this scene with the crystal ball, too, that shows the prison bars when Number Six takes it from Number One, just before he is smashing it to the ground. Interesing scene.
Regarding the election campaign. For me it is a bitter statement on democracy, and an almost total success for the village, as it managed to prove its power, and its ways and means to the Prisoner. Therefore the effort was worth it, wasn't it? To me it seems as if that little smile on Number Six face when Number Two asks him whether he is ready to talk is the last tiny remnant of success left to him. Although they had to brainwash him first, of course.
Kind regards,
Jana
BCNU!
Hello Jana,
DeleteI've always interpreted that crystal ball scene as Number 1 showing Number 6 his future, but it is a future which Number 6 rejectes by allowing the crystal ball to slip through his fingers and shatter on the floor.
Kind regards
David
Be seeing you
Hello David,
ReplyDeletethis is a good point.. an interesting one. I really like it. Makes me brood. I've just thought how dark this future is. And in a way those closing prison bars are somehow the opposite of the future that's shown later, McGoohan in his Lotus 7. But then this ending was only the beginning.
Kind regards, BCNU
Jana
Hi Jana,
DeleteThe Prisoner may reject his future shown to him in the crystal ball, but there is no avoiding it. In the Prisoner's end is his beginning.
You think that next time round the Prisoner will learn to accept the circumstances of his situation, and that things will turn out so very differently for him.....But no, the Prisoner never learns, never bends, not even a little, and the end result is just the same. A perpetual vicious circle, from which there is no escape!
Kind regards
David
BCNU
Hi David,
Deleteright.. So the circle and the prison bars do both have the same effects....
Kind regards
Jana
Be Seeing you.
Hi Jana,
DeleteYes, you have the right of it. Much in the same way as Number 6 describes a piece of his sculpture, and becasue there are holes in the third piece of his sculpture, that it represents freedom or a barrier, depending on how you look at it.
Kind regards
David
BCNU