Word Association Test

   At the hospital during ‘Checkmate’ Number 6 is put through a series of word association tests.
Cat
Dog
Rain
Shine
Desk
Work
Hope
Anchor
“Anchor?” queries the psychiatrist.
“The Hope and Anchor, it’s a pub I used to drink at” says Number 6.
Tree
Leaf
Home
Away
Return
Game
Love
Game
Game?
Tennis
Table
Chair
Ship
Shape
Red
Sail
Free
For all
   The doctor said there are some unusual associations, although nothing significant. Well let’s see. Hope-anchor, the Hope and Anchor public house where the Prisoner used to drink at. As a matter of fact The Hope and Anchor is about two miles from Patrick McGoohan’s former school of Ratcliffe. It is not known that as a pupil at Ratcliffe McGoohan actually went drinking at The Hope and Anchor, although it is known that boys of the school did, and Patrick McGoohan would have been aware of that.
   Home-away that’s perhaps the Prisoner being away from the Village, and reflects his return as in ‘Many Happy returns,’ and again for the same episode away-return, meaning he was away and then he returned. Free-for all well that’s when the Prisoner stood as a candidate for public office, for the position of No.2.
   The rest of the words go together in pairs, like red sail, which could be associated with a song “Red sails In The Sunset” published in 1935. Game-love-game-game-tennis, and in tennis love is nil! And besides that No.6 is good at the game he plays against No.2, and that’s why No.14 tells him he plays a fine game, and has nothing whatsoever to do with chess!

BCNU