Monday, August 31, 2015
"Drip on?" "Acknowledge."
Something that stuck out to me in "Escape From Spiderhead" was the fact that Jeff and the other experimental subjects had to "acknowledge" that they were aware that Abnesti was about to send substances through their drips, giving them some agency and control over their feelings. Though Abnesti seems to have a fairly close relationship with Jeff and the other subjects and seems to be saddened by Heather's death, he frequently reminds Jeff that scientific experimentation is more important than his feelings and even Heather's life, and is ultimately in control of his mind. Abnesti recognizes Jeff as a subject but is forced to treat him as an object - a conflict that must be very hard to deal with. I wish the story had given more background about Abnesti's life and revealed how he got his job and why he keeps doing it everyday. Is it possible that Abnesti is performing these experiments as punishment for committing a crime? Or does he choose to do it and believe it to be ethical?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I agree with your analysis of the power dynamic present in the chapter. The fact that in order for the drugs to be administered the test subjects had to the say "acknowledge" did seem to bud a mutual recognition relationship. However, I know there is no way the relationship between Jeff and Abnesti is equal. When I was reading the chapter I too wanted to know more about Abnesti's background. Maybe Albnesti's underlying empathy silenced by scientific method, suggests that people like him are the ones who are suffering the most.
ReplyDeleteWhile Abnesti did show some compassion toward Jeff, such as when he recognized that Jeff enjoyed talking to his mother on Fridays. But at the same time I felt that Abnesti still cared significantly more about the research than about the prisoner's well-being. Some of his more "considerate" actions just did not seems entirely genuine.
ReplyDeleteI agree. I thought it was interesting that they had the acknowledge and approve the drug. I also would have liked to read about Abnesti's past and how he got that job.
ReplyDeleteWhile Abnesti did show some compassion toward Jeff, such as when he recognized that Jeff enjoyed talking to his mother on Fridays. But at the same time I felt that Abnesti still cared significantly more about the research than about the prisoner's well-being. Some of his more "considerate" actions just did not seems entirely genuine.
ReplyDeleteI also think it was interesting that they had to say "acknowledge." However, one point I am confused about, or maybe a possible flaw in the story is how Heather and Rachel were not given the option of saying "acknowledge" before they were Darkenfloxxed.
ReplyDelete