A life time fan and Prisonerologist of the 1960's series 'the Prisoner', a leading authority on the subject, a short story writer, and now Prisoner novelist.
Wednesday, 20 May 2020
The Prisoner VirtualCon 2.0
There will be speeches, thrills and excitement, come one come all!
Hallo Mike, Glad to know you are fit and well in these difficult times. I am pleased you like The Prisoner VirtualCon Group, the moderators of the group are very keen and friendly people. I myself will be providing two contributions to the Con.
I've just had an original thought (at least I don't recall having come across it before).
In the village The Prisoner is given a number by which he is identified. It is effectually used as his name. But why was the number 6 assigned to The Prisoner in particular? Well, residence number 6 was vacant.
If you (living at number 10) don't know the name of your neighbour who lives across the road at number 19, you may refer to him as the man at number 19. Thus he is identified by his house number. That is the "name" you use for him. He, in turn, might refer to you as the woman at number 10.
The Prisoner, in his previous existence, lived at number 1, Buckingham Place. He was the man at number 1. The number 1 was effectively his identity (name) used by those who did not know him well enough. That's who he was to most people.
The Prisoner repeatedly said he was "not a number" and that he was a "free man".
The Prisoner, "for some time", had wanted to be a free man and now wanted to demonstrate the he really was a free man. He rejected the number 1 name and was getting away from it all.
Unfortunately, The Village gave him another number. A purely arbitrary number, just because residence number 6 happened to be vacant. From The Village authorities’ point of view: just living at number 6 is enough to show that The Prisoner really is just a number.
When he is no longer The Prisoner, he is also no longer either number 1 or number 6. Is he thus a free man? Does that mean he can finally return to getting away from it all?
Hello Again Mike, That is an original idea, I certainly haven't come across anything like it before. Its ingenious, and you make some very valid points. I like the idea very much, and thank you for posting it on my blog.
Hi David
ReplyDeleteI've checked out this Virtual Con. Looks like it's got a lot of good stuff lined up. Thanks for posting here.
Cheers
Mike
Hallo Mike,
DeleteGlad to know you are fit and well in these difficult times.
I am pleased you like The Prisoner VirtualCon Group, the moderators of the group are very keen and friendly people. I myself will be providing two contributions to the Con.
My very best wishes
TTFN
David
Hi David
DeleteIt's heartening to learn that you will be adding your valuable expertise to the VirtualCon. Looking forward to it.
Cheers
Mike
Hello Again Mike,
DeleteI am sure you will enjoy both my contributions to the Prisoner VirtualCon. And I simply pleased to be involved.
My best regards
David
Hi David (again)
ReplyDeleteI've just had an original thought (at least I don't recall having come across it before).
In the village The Prisoner is given a number by which he is identified. It is effectually used as his name. But why was the number 6 assigned to The Prisoner in particular? Well, residence number 6 was vacant.
If you (living at number 10) don't know the name of your neighbour who lives across the road at number 19, you may refer to him as the man at number 19. Thus he is identified by his house number. That is the "name" you use for him. He, in turn, might refer to you as the woman at number 10.
The Prisoner, in his previous existence, lived at number 1, Buckingham Place. He was the man at number 1. The number 1 was effectively his identity (name) used by those who did not know him well enough. That's who he was to most people.
The Prisoner repeatedly said he was "not a number" and that he was a "free man".
The Prisoner, "for some time", had wanted to be a free man and now wanted to demonstrate the he really was a free man. He rejected the number 1 name and was getting away from it all.
Unfortunately, The Village gave him another number. A purely arbitrary number, just because residence number 6 happened to be vacant. From The Village authorities’ point of view: just living at number 6 is enough to show that The Prisoner really is just a number.
When he is no longer The Prisoner, he is also no longer either number 1 or number 6. Is he thus a free man? Does that mean he can finally return to getting away from it all?
Hello Again Mike,
DeleteThat is an original idea, I certainly haven't come across anything like it before. Its ingenious, and you make some very valid points. I like the idea very much, and thank you for posting it on my blog.
TTFN
David
Hi David
ReplyDeleteThank you.
In matters of The Prisoner, you have become my measuring stick: and a most reliable one at that!
Cheers
Mike
Hello Mike,
DeleteHow very kind of you to say so.
My very best regards
David