"What's It All About?"
Many search for symbolism and hidden meaning in The Prisoner,
and volumes of interpretation and speculation have been written in
the thirty years since the series premiered. The Prisoner has even
been the focus of university courses as well as a few doctoral theses.
Did Patrick McGoohan anticipate the level of attention the series has
generated? Does he still delight as new viewers attempt to solve the puzzle?
Surprisingly, McGoohan has on at least one occasion stated that he finds it
"marvellous" that people discussed the meaning of The Prisoner, but
that if they did actually understand it, he would appreciate them explaining
it to him! He generally refutes notions of hidden meanings, and regarding
characterizations of the series as "Kafka-esque," he claims he has never read
any Kafka!
Reportedly, McGoohan's primary intention was to produce a fast-moving
adventure series involving the loss of freedom and dehumanization of
the individual. He says that, because of the experimental, arty and "pop"
nature of the 1960's, he mixed some of those elements in as well. The
remainder he credits to being dreamed up by the art director, the script editor
and the various writers.
His denials aside, there is no doubt that genius was at play here,
particularly in episodes such as "Free For All" and "Fall Out" which were
scripted by McGoohan, the latter in seclusion and under complete secrecy.
No matter what one believes or what meaning one wishes to derive from
The Prisoner, the series remains today one of the most original and intriguing
works ever brought to the small screen, and continues to appeal to its
appreciators in a variety of ways and at many levels.
