Tiny Turtle, thank you for your reply! I actually did mean any character in the book and only gave those first three as examples. I would have to agree with you and say that none of these three were characters I could truly identify with.Tiny_Turtle wrote: ↑13 Aug 2018, 17:21 Spoiler Alert: I get very specific.
When I saw the title, "Which character did you identify with the most?", I thought you meant which character out of the whole book. My mind went right away to a particular character that played a tiny, but significant, part. I didn't realize that you were going to list three characters for us to choose from. Not really sure which of the three I feel I could be most like, under the same circumstances. But, I'll try.
I wasn't really 'drawn to' any one of the characters more than the others. Although, I was the most 'surprised' by Rex. I fully expected him to kill Sliver. They were face to face and Sliver asked Rex if he was going to kill him, and Rex said, "No, I'm not", even though he was receiving punishment jolts. That just blew my mind. Totally unexpected.
I would like to think that I could be like Rex. To be able to do what was right, no matter how I had been programmed. If you really think about it, we are all programmed to believe a certain way from the time we are born. We are programmed by our parents and the rest of our family, our church or lack of, our teachers at school, even by our governments thru media and laws, even our friends.
From our first breath, we are being programmed as to what is right and what is wrong. At some point we believe that our decisions are our own, or will be once we become an adult. But, are they truly, or are they a product of our conditioning, our programming? I would like to think that if I ever came face to face with the reality that something I had been taught to believe as true was actually a lie, that I would be able to make the decision to do the right thing, no matter the consequences. Like Rex did.
I don't believe I would turn out like Sliver, especially under the same circumstances. I would have probably been one of the ones who didn't make it through the indoctrination. I couldn't imagine myself surviving through the ordeal of torture that he went through.
Which brings me to Kelly. "Kelly is forced out of what she thought was reality and into circumstances beyond her control." I can relate to Kelly. There was someone in my life that I believed I could count on. Someone I believed would always be there for me, no matter what. When you have someone like that in your life, your reality looks a certain way, the world looks a certain way.
Then, the day comes when your reality is shattered. You find out that they were not who, or what, you thought they were. You really can't count on them. They aren't there for you. Suddenly, the whole world looks different. Reality tilts on its side, and everything feels out of control. And, there's not a whole lot you can do about it. Except to put one foot in front of the other, and continue to move forward, adapting to the new reality. Just like Kelly did.
So, I guess I would have to say that Kelly is the one I could see myself being the most like under the same circumstances. I've already been there. No one actually died, but it sure did feel like it, and my whole reality, and the way I saw the world, changed.
Now, back to the first character that came to my mind when I saw the question, "Which character did you identify with the most?"
The first technician we met on pg. 18. The poor guy was just trying to do his job. He was supposed to hook up to the Chrome Wind, and download the latest mission's information. Minding his own business, walking to the plane. At first, Sliver just did the intimidation stare, as he walked toward the technician. When the technician kept walking, Sliver stops and tells the poor guy that he'll kill him if he touches the plane.
I could just so totally relate. I can remember what it feels like to be in that position. Stuck between the big boss and a big client, just trying to do my job. Knowing that no matter what I did, I'd still be in trouble. But, at least the client never threatened to kill me physically, just threatened to kill my career.The technician whimpered. Sliver stared a few seconds longer, and then walked away towards an elevator. He pressed the call button, and the technician waited. Sliver entered the elevator when it opened, and the technician continued to wait. The doors closed, and the technician wondered how much he needed this job.
When I read that part, I remember that I actually pictured myself laying my hand on his shoulder, watching the elevator doors close, and saying, "Jerk."
Agent Sliver is (although a killer) a kind of superhero type and I like daydreaming about that kind of thing. You know, being Superman and being able to fly. But...I would not truly want to be like him. I, like you, think it would be preferable to die rather than be coerced (brainwashed, whatever) into murdering innocent people. I do think it is impossible to know what that type of conditioning might do to a human being.
Rex is a very surprising character but not developed enough for me to imagine inhabiting his skin. I really enjoyed reading this book and the unique scenarios it explores, but think all of the characters could have used more development. Not to put the author down. I think this is an amazing effort! Yes, Rex's decision to defy his programming was a completely unexpected development and worth thinking about. I too would like to be able to do what is right, no matter the personal consequences. Of course, if you bring in consequences to others in our lives (especially those we love) that brings up a whole new set of moral and emotional conflicts. But that's another story...
Yes, I can identify with Kelly under the terms you describe. I have endured a few such situations in my life. I think most people do. Sometimes people betray us intentionally and other times it is because they too have been conditioned in certain ways. Your description of what this feels like is heartfelt and I very much appreciate it!
Your insight into what the technician must have felt like is also appreciated. I am sorry you have had to deal with a situation that made you feel this way. I have too, when I think about it, but didn't give it much thought in reading that section. I guess I was identifying too much with Sliver at that point and (probably along with the author) just accepted it as a way for Sliver to do what he wanted (and move the plot forward).
Finally, I have to say, your response was such an unexpected delight to read! Thank you so much for your thoughtful reply!!!