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Monday 9 February 2015

Numerology

    Numbers figure largely in ‘the Prisoner’ and so it is not the least bit surprising that at some point ‘numerology’ would be called upon to explain certain aspects of ‘the Prisoner.' One being the belief of some that Patrick McGoohan was obviously destined to play the role of Number 6/Number1 from the day he was born using the following calculations.
   These calculations use Patrick McGoohans date of birth to achieve his destiny number or birthpath, which at first glance does appear to be the number 6 and number 1. However on second glance it is clear that there has been some manipulation of the numbers in this calculation in order to achieve the desired result. 1+9+3+2+2=23 2x3=6 or 3-2=1 making McGoohans destiny number both 6 and 1. And what’s wrong with that? Well firstly the subject in hand can have only one destiny number not two, though there are two ways of achieving such a number. Secondly only addition is used, never multiplication or division as demonstrated in the two previous calculations.
    This second calculation 1+9+3+1+1+9+2+8=33 3=3=6 giving McGoohans destiny number as 6, if you believe numerology that is. As for 3x3=9 ie 6 inverted, also in 1961,or 61 or 6/1, and  the fact that in 1961 McGoohan was 33 has absolutely nothing to do with it!
    But this is only one of two methods of arriving at ones destiny or birth path number. To demonstrate we shall take the full name of Patrick Joseph McGoohan and see if the number 6 is achieved
7+1+2+9+9+3+2+1+6+1+5+7+8+4+3+7+6+6+8+1+5 = 101 1+1 =2. Well there’s a turn up for the books, we have conflicting numbers! Perhaps on the basis of using Patrick McGoohans full name he should have been playing the role of Number 2 Chairman of The Village, which he in fact did during ‘Free For All’ albeit for a short term that is.
   So what does it all boil down to in the end this so called destiny of birth path number? Well it’s all a question of belief I suppose, but basically; 6 equals responsibility, family love, health, boundaries, nurturer of others. It also relates to tact, harmony. Is a relationship builder which corresponds to one-one encounters which in turn we can see relates to the one-one encounter between number 6 and number 2 in ‘Once Upon A Time.’ 6 can be unfaithful, jealous, bitter and vengeful.
2 equals choices, balance, communication, healing and cooperation.
1 equals new beginnings, creative thought, new opportunities and individuality.
    Although we have been dealing with the question of numerology and numbers, it would be a mistake to attribute the meaning of such numbers to any citizen of The Village.

Be seeing you

8 comments:

  1. All quite interesting, those numerology deliberations, David. But what about the 6 significant of the "magic" year 1966, simple as that? Perhaps even, the duodecimal system used in GB at that time: 6 = half a dozen (of the other). The 7, on the other hand, invisible or - mostly - absent from the series as the number was omitted and eschewed intentionally (see the information board). No pat answer here, that's for sure. - BCNU!

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    1. Hello Arno,
      In past years some fans of 'the Prisoner' went to great lengths to prove why the number 6, and one or two used numerology to prove this. That it was Patrick McGoohan's destiny to act the role of Number 6. So its not so much why the number 6,but the complicated deliberations people went to to prove why it had to be so.
      1966 I had not considered, because of its two times six, that's the Schizoid Man isn't it?
      No "Pat" answer here. you are quite right. Pat never liked answering questions about 'the Prisoner!'

      Very kind regards
      David
      BCNU

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  2. I am not a number!

    And as for whether Patrick Joseph McGoohan should have been Number 2...well, recall that in the first Prisoner novel, Number 1 was jerking the Prisoner around through the whole thing in order to convert him into the permanent Number 2!

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    1. Hello Enik1138,
      Well yes that's right. And isn't that how it is in 'Tthe Prisoner' series? After all Number 2 is a good man, but if they get Number 6 he will be better. All that fuss and bother in 'Fall out' and the offer of ultimate power! Number 1 could be anybody, as far as the citizens of the Village are concerned, its Number 2 that counts.
      In Thomas Disch's novel, didn't Number 1 turn out to be the old woman sitting in a rocking chair, the woman sat next to the Prisoner's bed, in hospital in 'Arrival.' Who in turn turned out to be a robot?

      Very kind regards
      David
      BCNU

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  3. By using numbers the individual is denied any particularity. It is a different question as to how much those numbers do establish a ranked order. In the case of the 1 and the 2 this is evident enough. As there is (apparently) neither the 3, the 4 nor the 5 the 6 would now take position 3 thereby underlining its importance. Also the 7 is absent here (see below!) which creates a gap as well as a significant distance towards the following. Those numbers turn out to be mere expendable numbers, exchangable characters and functions. - BCNU!

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    1. Hello Arno,
      I can only imagine that there would be the 3, 4, and 5, just as its plain to see other numbers, 117 for example. 117 doesn't take part in any major action, yet he is there. In the same way that many of the numbered citizens do not take part in any of the major action. The most they get involved, is during the election, Carnival, and Appreciatiantion Day. But I would agree that numbers are interchangeable with characters and functions. But then that is only because a new actor is used, his or her predecessor having left the production, and so numbers, such as 8, 12, 14, and 22 are re-used.

      Very kind regards
      David
      BCNU

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  4. Don't try to look "below", there's nothing! Forgot to delete it. - BCNU!

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