*Search bar approved, albeit somewhat lazily!*
**Also, my first topic on the Escapist in well over a year of membership...**
Those of you familiar with George Orwell's fantastic dystopian novel Nineteen Eighty-Four will know about Room 101, the chamber in the so-called "Ministry of Love" in which The Party subjects prisoners to torture by whatever is their most profound fear or phobia, and in which...
...Winston, the protagonist, breaks his promise never to emotionally betray his love interest, Julia. Winston's biggest fear was rats, and in order to avoid having his face gnawed off by the furry little buggers, he screams "Do it to Julia!", signifying that the state had finally broken him. He's also forced to accept that "2+2 = 5", something which is mirrored in the TNG episode "Chain of Command" Parts I and II, which if you haven't seen I'd strongly recommend.
Picture this: for your entire life, you've been under surveillance. The Party knows all of your deepest secrets and knows all of your hopes and fears. You've been captured by the Ministry of Love, and you're about to be tortured in Room 101. What sort of horror do you think awaits you? Let's say your love interest or a family member is involved. For the sake of discussion value (and, admittedly, childish fantasy), let's say that if you manage to withstand the torture, your significant other will go free, but if you surrender, he/she will be tortured instead. How do you think you'd manage?
To start off, I'm guessing that I'd be presented with something to do with my skin (and the prospects of its removal). It's terrifying just to contemplate it. I'm fairly positive that I'd lack the will and strength of mind to withstand Room 101, but what about you?
**Also, my first topic on the Escapist in well over a year of membership...**
Those of you familiar with George Orwell's fantastic dystopian novel Nineteen Eighty-Four will know about Room 101, the chamber in the so-called "Ministry of Love" in which The Party subjects prisoners to torture by whatever is their most profound fear or phobia, and in which...
...Winston, the protagonist, breaks his promise never to emotionally betray his love interest, Julia. Winston's biggest fear was rats, and in order to avoid having his face gnawed off by the furry little buggers, he screams "Do it to Julia!", signifying that the state had finally broken him. He's also forced to accept that "2+2 = 5", something which is mirrored in the TNG episode "Chain of Command" Parts I and II, which if you haven't seen I'd strongly recommend.
Picture this: for your entire life, you've been under surveillance. The Party knows all of your deepest secrets and knows all of your hopes and fears. You've been captured by the Ministry of Love, and you're about to be tortured in Room 101. What sort of horror do you think awaits you? Let's say your love interest or a family member is involved. For the sake of discussion value (and, admittedly, childish fantasy), let's say that if you manage to withstand the torture, your significant other will go free, but if you surrender, he/she will be tortured instead. How do you think you'd manage?
To start off, I'm guessing that I'd be presented with something to do with my skin (and the prospects of its removal). It's terrifying just to contemplate it. I'm fairly positive that I'd lack the will and strength of mind to withstand Room 101, but what about you?
