highcastle wrote...
Taking a break from my paper (again; I have a problem) and I see we're talking about the Stanford Prison Experiment. Anders Thread, you are like crack to me.
Isn't it just?
Sometimes I wonder if I sold my soul to this thread the moment I submitted my first post.
As Maria said, the SPE was not conducted with prisoners and guards. And the researcher in charge, Zimbardo, called it short when he realized he was compromised (he'd cast himself in the role of a warden and was thinking as one, rather than a teacher in charge of students). It's implications for the CJ system are negligible, though it's a fascinating if somewhat controversial look at how rapidly we adapt to new roles in a total institution.
On the subject of actual prisons (which I still say the templars resemble), I know BioWare is a Canadian company and most of my information comes from the American correctional system. This being said, our justice system is somewhat well known. 25% of the world's prison population is in the United States. Places like Alcatraz are infamous the world over. And even if the parallels are unintentional, it doesn't matter. When analyzing fiction, author intent does not always matter. Symbolism can be in place regardless of whether the author consciously meant to put it there.
So how are the Circles similar to prisons? They're both ineffectual, for one. We've seen blood magic in both the Ferelden and Kirkwall Circles. In fact, one could probably argue the circles give mages a place to congregate and share their knowledge. Because they have to keep their research secret from the templars, it also encourages them to be more manipulative and secretive. So in fact, the Circles are making them more effective and dangerous blood mages. In the same vein, maximum and super-max prisons arose out of a need to control the most dangerous offenders by putting them in one place. People are usually sent here because of crimes committed inside another prison.
There's a famous prison called Pelican Bay in CA which houses many such convicts. The criminals inside often consider it a right of passage to be sent there because they know it will make them a better criminal. They can learn from each other, hone their skills, and when they're released on the outside, they're more effective at their craft. How's that for disturbing. Granted, mages aren't customarily "released" from the Circle, though they do seem able to leave in certain circumstances (such as to join the army at Ostagar or when Wynne was sent to join the Warden and then to Cumberland to speak there).
Anyway, before I go on for pages and pages, I just thought it was worth considering. It's not a perfect metaphor, but I think understanding the psychology inside an actual prison is worth knowing when talking about the Circle and templars. I think it also helps explain some of Anders' actions and mentality. Many times prisons actually increase an inmate's violent and criminal urges. Anders is as much a product of his experiences in the Circle as he is of the merger with Justice. We tend to focus on that aspect of his personality as being behind his "spot of iconoclasm," but I'd argue his history played a role, as well.
It's something to consider, regardless.
Many mages do seem a little... disturbed. (Usually through blood magic, but still)
Like Keili or whatever her name was. (Little miss "my magic is a curse!")
And Anders.
Mages seem a little divided at times, what with the factions and all.
I wonder if the Circles would still be standing without the Aquetarians standing between the Loyalists and the Libertarians?
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