Morpheus - Zdzislaw BeksinskiJohn wondered why people allow themselves to be dictated to; to have their lives planned for them by others – parents; teachers; employers and governments.
The enforcement of power with the use of violence is certainly a contributing factor to population control, but what defines the minimum requirement for people not to revolt? What line has to be crossed in order that the rumbling discontentment becomes full-blown uprising?
John wondered what part of him could not accept this, in many ways, idyllic life; wondered what events in his past life had formed this hard little core of discontentment that would not allow him to take the intentions of others on face value.
He wondered what inability to accept authority had driven his former life, since it was now obvious that this island existed was somewhere beyond death; some waiting room perhaps; some random arrangement of possibilities; some trinket on god’s charm bracelet; or just another place for people to exhibit their faults and prejudices?
He thought about how the others handled the situation; realising that perhaps many of them had similar problems. Shangaan certainly seemed to have an awareness that what went before was important; even Morose was suppressing his desire to be elsewhere, placating it with the spoils of his elevated position within the hierarchy and with delusions of his own importance.
He watched as they toiled at the nets, the gulls circling frenetic. People absorbed in their duties; he almost wished that he too could be that comfortable with his lot.
He realised that it is unreasonable to expect people to live up to his personal expectations, and that if he wanted things to change he was going to have to do it himself - he was going to have to go to the top.
The enforcement of power with the use of violence is certainly a contributing factor to population control, but what defines the minimum requirement for people not to revolt? What line has to be crossed in order that the rumbling discontentment becomes full-blown uprising?
John wondered what part of him could not accept this, in many ways, idyllic life; wondered what events in his past life had formed this hard little core of discontentment that would not allow him to take the intentions of others on face value.
He wondered what inability to accept authority had driven his former life, since it was now obvious that this island existed was somewhere beyond death; some waiting room perhaps; some random arrangement of possibilities; some trinket on god’s charm bracelet; or just another place for people to exhibit their faults and prejudices?
He thought about how the others handled the situation; realising that perhaps many of them had similar problems. Shangaan certainly seemed to have an awareness that what went before was important; even Morose was suppressing his desire to be elsewhere, placating it with the spoils of his elevated position within the hierarchy and with delusions of his own importance.
He watched as they toiled at the nets, the gulls circling frenetic. People absorbed in their duties; he almost wished that he too could be that comfortable with his lot.
He realised that it is unreasonable to expect people to live up to his personal expectations, and that if he wanted things to change he was going to have to do it himself - he was going to have to go to the top.
Exerpt from 'Markov Chain'
2 comments:
This Markov Chain.. who is the author?
I am.
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