The Prisoner

: For the Australian television soap opera (1979), see Prisoner.

Interpretations and rumors

A major theme of The Prisoner is the conflict between individual needs versus those of society, and the compromise which each make to co-exist. While The Village tries to assimilate Number 6, Number 6 strives for independence—usually through escape. Sometimes Number 6 succeeds, sometimes he fails, and sometimes he fails by resisting, in that in resisting on their terms he has succumbed to the greater trap, that is, playing the game The Village has put before him.

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During the opening dialogue in most episodes, Number 2 says "You are Number 6". Some view this as a direct response to the previous question "Who is Number 1?" by inserting a comma into the statement ("You are, Number 6."), implying that Number 6 is in control. Similarly, Number 2's reply of "Information" to Number 6's question "What do you want?" could be interpreted as 'information' or 'in formation', the latter being a command to follow orders and conform.

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The identity of Number 6 is debated; many believe he is John Drake, the spy character McGoohan played for many years on Danger Man a.k.a. Secret Agent. At least one later episode of The Prisoner ("The Girl Who Was Death") was adapted from an unused Danger Man script, and a character named Potter who appeared in the earlier series appeared on The Prisoner. Otherwise, McGoohan has stated for decades that No. 6 was not John Drake, while Markstein said he was. Still others find the evidence for this view scant.

Related Topics:
John Drake - Danger Man

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