Well of course it's not the Colonel, it's really the mind of the Prisoner-No.6, so what I am about to type doesn't really count. But for what it's worth, in a scene during the episode of'Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling' the Colonel/the Prisoner-No.6 writes the name SELTZMAN in block capital letters on a sheet of paper. Then by counting the numbers of the letters of the alphabet he then writes each corresponding number above it's letter.
It has been said by fans of the Prisoner that the Colonel/the Prisoner-No.6 should know the numbers of the alphabet, and not need to count them on his fingers. for example everyone knows that A is 1 and that E is 5, Z is 26 and so on.
Well that is so, but as it happens, and generally speaking, it is only those who work everyday with codes and chipers who know without thinking each number of the letters of the alphabet. For example, a friend of my wife once told her some years ago now, when she was free to do so, that she had worked at Bletchley Park during WW2 breaking the German codes. And was amazed that my wife did not know the numbers of the letters of the alphabet, which came second nature to my wifes friend.
So why does the Prisoner's mind, which had worked with ciphers and codes, need to count the numbers of the alphabet on his hand like that? In all all probability simply for the camera and those who are watching. Otherwise we would have no idea what the mind of the Prisoner was up to, would we now?
Be seeing you
>>No.6 should know the numbers of the alphabet, and not need to count them on his fingers.<<
ReplyDeleteKnowing or not knowing the order of the letters of the alphabet isn't the question here, I'm sure. But primarily the fact that, in a film, you just have to SEE something on the screen. Thinking, deliberating albeit quite heavily, however, remains an invisible act which must be accompanied by a physical movement. - BCNU!
Hello Arno,
DeleteAh, we are back to movement in a scene, much in the say way as the rocking horse and swing in 'Once Upon A Time.' So yes I see what you mean. But they might simply have filmed the Colonel writing the required number to the letter of the alphabet. Might not have worked equally well?
Kind regards
David
BCNU
I was a bit overambitious, wrote what had been written. But yes indeed, it would have also worked. - BCNU!
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