The Obsolete Man story
In a future totalitarian society, a librarian is declared obsolete and makes rather unusual requests to the Chancellor as to the manner of his execution. Directed by: Elliot Silverstein. Story by: Rod Serling.
9 total · 1 choice · 3 major · 5 minor
| Theme | Level | Motivation |
|---|---|---|
| totalitarian dystopia | choice | We saw a society in which, clearly, the rulers decided what is true and what people were allowed to believe. |
| Christianity | major | Mr. Wordsworth was a defiant Christian though religion was banned. |
| courage in the face of death | major | It seems the solace of faith gave Mr. Wordsworth the cajones the Chancellor notably lacked, and he faced his death with stoic content. |
| poetic justice | major | The Chancellor who had declared Mr. Wordsworth obsolete with such sadistic delight, was in the end declared obsolete himself. |
| anti-intellectualism in society | minor | The government did its best to foster anti-intellectualism in this society by baning books. |
| conformism in society | minor | Mr. Wordsworth existence as a librarian was in itself a bold defiance of the accepted categories in this totalitarian society. |
| cowardice | minor | The Chancellor showed himself to be a coward when he was locked up in Mr. Wordsworth's room. |
| historical figure | minor | Hitler was mentioned as a role model. [Adolf Hitler] |
| librarian | minor | Mr. Wordsworth was a dedicated librarian. |