Pepsoidian Challenge
By mykle
- 966 reads
1. write a 50-worder set in Middle Earth
2. write a 50-worder set in the world of The Matrix
3. write a 50-worder set in the universe of Star Wars
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"Perhaps we should have told the truth."
"No-one would have believed that Gollum was a hero, Sam." said Frodo.
"If he hadn't bitten off your finger..."
"He's content - living with the eagles. He didn't want to be a hero...
neither do I... people seem to need heroes more than truth."
Better Batteries?
"You're saying that the only reason we still exist is because we generate a lot of electricity! Why on Earth do the machines use people with all the attendant complexities of creating and maintaining the Matrix when they could use cats or cows?" asked Neo.
"Search me." came the reply.
Blind Faith?
"Listen, Princess, you're wanted as terrorists across the known Universe. You're planning on taking on the might of the whole Empire with a handfull of ships in the name of freedom. Maybe you should just let the Emperor win... would save a whole lotta lives."
"The Force is with us!"
NB It's been pointed out to me that the Rebel Alliance were not actually terrorists.
I don't argue that they were - only that the Empire would label them so.
All 3 plots are about a relatively small number of people standing up against a seemingly invincible opponent.
I suppose that the 'David and Goliath' theme is a universal one - perhaps a subset of the stories of those who manage to succeed against overwhelming odds.
It set me thinking about 'labels' since it can be argued that from the point of view of the prevailing power, in each of these stories, that the heroes are terrorists. It reminded me of the saying : 'One man's freedom fighter is another man's terrorist.'
For me LOTR is in a class of its own and although in each of the 3 tales it is a single individual who saves the day - only Tolkien manages to make the saviour ironic :O)
It's also notable that the other 2 epics have heroes who are genetically predisposed for the role they play - although it could, perhaps, be argued that the same is true of the Hobbits who proved to have superior resistance to the ring's seductive power.
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