A life time fan and Prisonerologist of the 1960's series 'the Prisoner', a leading authority on the subject, a short story writer, and now Prisoner novelist.
Friday, 5 October 2012
Teabreak Teaser
To the Village Administration, does it really matter why the Prisoner resigned?
Would it have made any difference had the Prisoner given his reason earlier in the series?
In my opinion the Prisoner had for sure to stay in the village. The problems would partially have been the same, Number 2 or the village would have tried to integrate or assimilate him. Perhaps the matter with his resignation is more about integration... Perhaps they want to know why he suddenly doesn't like them anymore.
On the other hand it is a matter of his character, to mind his own business and keep his reasons to himself. So one had to ask what would it have meant regarding his character, if he had given in?
Also his silence certainly makes his character more interesting for the viewer and Number 2, too. And - questions are a burden to others, answers a prison for oneself.
Therefore I think it would have made a big difference, if not for Number 2 but for Number 6 and the television viewer.
That is an interesting and thought provoking comment. The Prisoner being intergrated into the Village or to assimilate him, yes I like that. Of course that would have to happen, they wanted Number 6 to settle down to the way of Village life, to settle down, and join in, which Number 6 did when it suited him. And that's a very good point, that they wanted to know why he resigned, why he doesn't like them any more, that's thinking outside the box. Number 6 like Number 48 was 'with' them, but then he went and gone!
Number 6 has a strong sense of character, of identity. It would not have been in his character to 'give in.' Although had other, and more extreme interrogation techniques been used, I'm pretty sure Number 6 would have talked. It is curious that Number 2 is often seen as the chief interrogator in the Village, or at least the overseer of interrogation methods used against Number 6. Yet Number 2 also acts as a buffer between Number 6 and what others would have done to him. Yes, I agree, it would have made a difference for Number 6 and that of the television viewer. But perhaps for Number 2 as well, had Number 6 told them why he resigned during his debriefing by Number 2 in 'Arrival,' then his successors would have, would have what? At least to remain alive, and not to suffer the ingnomy of defeat.
Hello David
ReplyDeleteI guess - That would be telling.
In my opinion the Prisoner had for sure to stay in the village. The problems would partially have been the same, Number 2 or the village would have tried to integrate or assimilate him. Perhaps the matter with his resignation is more about integration... Perhaps they want to know why he suddenly doesn't like them anymore.
On the other hand it is a matter of his character, to mind his own business and keep his reasons to himself. So one had to ask what would it have meant regarding his character, if he had given in?
Also his silence certainly makes his character more interesting for the viewer and Number 2, too. And - questions are a burden to others, answers a prison for oneself.
Therefore I think it would have made a big difference, if not for Number 2 but for Number 6 and the television viewer.
Very kind regards,
Jana
BCNU
Hi Jana,
DeleteThat is an interesting and thought provoking comment. The Prisoner being intergrated into the Village or to assimilate him, yes I like that. Of course that would have to happen, they wanted Number 6 to settle down to the way of Village life, to settle down, and join in, which Number 6 did when it suited him.
And that's a very good point, that they wanted to know why he resigned, why he doesn't like them any more, that's thinking outside the box. Number 6 like Number 48 was 'with' them, but then he went and gone!
Number 6 has a strong sense of character, of identity. It would not have been in his character to 'give in.' Although had other, and more extreme interrogation techniques been used, I'm pretty sure Number 6 would have talked. It is curious that Number 2 is often seen as the chief interrogator in the Village, or at least the overseer of interrogation methods used against Number 6. Yet Number 2 also acts as a buffer between Number 6 and what others would have done to him.
Yes, I agree, it would have made a difference for Number 6 and that of the television viewer. But perhaps for Number 2 as well, had Number 6 told them why he resigned during his debriefing by Number 2 in 'Arrival,' then his successors would have, would have what? At least to remain alive, and not to suffer the ingnomy of defeat.
Kind regards
David
BCNU