Why should Number 6, with his rebellious, and uncaring nature, concern himself with the welfare of the citizens who would have suffered mass reprisals at the assassination of Number 2? And yet, according to Number 2 in ‘Arrival,’ he does understand that it was a matter of conscience. So is that what was behind Number 6' resignation, a matter of conscience, that he could no longer stand what he, or rather his alter ego - Number 1, was doing to the citizens of the Village?
Number 6 Sent To Coventry
During the episode of A Change of Mind Number 6 is effectively "sent to Coventry
Taken With A Pinch Of Salt!
The following extract is taken from an interview with the late Frank Maher, in January 1987, who was stunt arranger, and stunt double for Patrick McGoohan in the Prisoner.
Well this particular story can be taken with a very large pinch of salt. My wife and I actually stayed in this hotel mentioned in Frank's tale, and on more than one occasion, at the time of Prisoner conventions held at Portmeirion.
We have spoken to the hotel owner at, who was the owner of the hotel at the time of the production of the Prisoner, whilst filming was taking place at Portmeirion.
The hotel is not in the middle of the street, nor is half of it in one county, and the other half in another county. The plain, simple facts of the case is, because of Welsh opening hours in the County of Gwynedd at the time, public bars were closed on Sundays, yet the hotel bar could be open to residents. This is why the "public bar" of the hotel was closed, and the "resident bar," where Frank Maher and other members of the production were, was open. Each of the bars, both public and resident, could be accessed by different doors from the outside.
We all loved Frank’s stories!
Point Of Observation
Apart from two specific instances, in ‘Arrival’ when he's laying out the Prisoner's breakfast, and during ‘The Schizoid Man’ when he's giving No.2 a massage, the butler never takes off his gloves!
ROVER
Rover gives the strange sound effect of a bloke breathing through an aqua-lung and Gregorian chant! Hence giving off a religious hint to the atmosphere of the Village, which is far more discernable during the "first-cut" of Arrival. Personally I like it.
Be seeing you
Why should Number 6, with his rebellious, and uncaring nature, concern himself with the welfare of the citizens who would have suffered mass reprisals at the assassination of Number 2? - I'm not sure if Number 6 really is an uncaring nature? In my opinion he isn't. He is told to be unmutual because he refuses to follow the rules, and he prefers to be a lone wolve, but I'd rather think that it's a matter of attribution than a character trait. I guess that he prefers privacy doesn't neccessarily mean that he doesn't care for others or wouldn't accept any responsibilities.
ReplyDeleteVery kind regards,
Jana
BCNU
Hello Jana,
DeleteNo.2 once asked No.6 "Why do you care?", to which he replied "You'll never know."
So No.6 does care after all, and yet keeps his distance, the sign of a cautious man as suggested by Arno. Perhaps in keeping himself to himself he thinks he will not get hurt, or on the other hand will not indirectly cause harm to others!
Very kind regards
David
BCNU
No. 6 acts cautiously in the Village, meaning he's reserved and always trying to be on his own, not to give away too much of his self too easily. Which in turn could be taken for being uncaring towards the needs of other people. He's simply keeping up a guard of self-defence. On the other hand there's also a lack of appropriate stories to underline this trait of compassion to his fellow inmates as displayed in "Funeral". - BCNU!
ReplyDeleteHello Arno,
DeleteTrue enough. Whenever No.6 has allowed himself to become close to anyone, Nadia and Allison for examples, no good ever come of it. And yet one can keep ones guard up for only so long, wouldn't you say?
Very kind regards
David
BCNU
If he cared, if he were becoming too compassionate, one must assume, the Village would have turned it against him, more than they actually did. They might have taken all those people too close to him hostage (so to speak). - BCNU!
ReplyDeleteHello Arno,
DeleteAn interesting thought, and one I had not previously considered. They might have brought Janet to the Village, to use her against him in the same way as they used Madam Professor against her husband the Professor!
Very kind regards
David
BCNU