I can understand the reasoning behind such village slogans as "A still tongue makes a happy life" or Questions are a burden to others, answers a prison for onself," "Of the people for the people, by the people," that last one borrowed from one of the many Gettisberg addresses, I forget which one for the moment. And as for "A still tongue makes a happy life" I know the origin of this one, but who wrote it and others used in the village is beyond me at the present time. I mean "Questions are a burden to others, answers a prison for oneself", it reads as though they were written by resisting citizens, not of their keepers, or if they were by those who refused to disclose anything about themselves.
Be seeing you
Hello David,
ReplyDelete"Questions are a burden to others, answers a prison for oneself" always seemed rather cynical to me. It's interesting, it really could have been thought up by resistant villagers. But the same time it includes a threat for those who intend to ask questions about the village, just like Number 6 does, and even more for those who intent to answer such questions. Same with "A still tongue makes a happy life". It's about preventing turning tables in a sense, the village wants to avoid to give away any information about itself.
That's something Number 6 and the Village have in common as it seems.
I think those slogans also uncover the doublespeak behind the village. Especially "A still tongue makes a happy life" since we are shown how lucky the lifers are who won't talk.
Very kind regards,
Jana
BCNU!
Hello Jana,
DeleteThat's a fair enough comment For myself I see "Questions are a burden to others" because they don't have the answers. And then there is the burden of having to ask the questions, and the struggle they often have in getting the answers they crave. Also that "Answers a prison for oneself," by giving the answer you do to the questions put to you, you make a prison for yourself simply because you cannot take those answers back.
I like very much your interpretation of "A still tongue makes a happy life." Except No.6 keeps a still tongue, but he doesn't have a happy life in the Village!
Very kind regards
David
BCNU
Hello David,
Deleteyes, absolutely, Number 6 doesn't have a happy life in the village. Same for Roland Walter Dutton. That's why for me the slogan is doublespeak, so to say.
I also agree with and like your interpretation, especially the part regarding the answers. Also, asking questions sometimes kind of forces others to answer them, and therefore to imprison themselves (as well as the others, occassionally, who have to live with the answer). That's another part of the burden.
On the other hand questions sometimes are a way to free oneself, in my opinion. If answers are a prison, then questions sometimes are a way across the walls. And I guess too much freedom of the individual is a burden to the village and its community...
I think that's so special about those slogans, they are true from some points of view, but so wrong from others.
Best wishes,
Jana
BCNU
Hello Jana,
DeleteVery nicely put.
"Too much freedom of the individual is a burden to the Village and its community." the communtiy must live, and so must number 6. And we must not forget that any society, community, is made up of individuals, and without individuals where would the community be? Possibly made up of brainwashed imbiciles who can neither laugh, cry, nor think!
Very kind regards
David
BCNU