Intense indeed. There are several moving parts here. First is the obvious, that a young person in declining health is depressed and has decided that he wants to shuffle off the mortal coil. That’s sad in and of itself.
Second is his mother’s desperation because she’s about to lose her son. Also sad, desperately so.
Intense indeed. There are several moving parts here. First is the obvious, that a young person in declining health is depressed and has decided that he wants to shuffle off the mortal coil. That’s sad in and of itself.
Second is his mother’s desperation because she’s about to lose her son. Also sad, desperately so.
Third is the sister, a nursing student, and who “helps” him with email. Did he expect her not to see the emails with Tepper? And once she saw them, not share that info with their mother? At this point things start smelling like a manipulation. Did he really want to die? Or was/is he crying for help? Sounds a lot like the latter, doesn’t it?
Finally, there’s MAiD, personified here by Tepper. The idea of state-assisted suicide isn’t new. In fact, it’s central to the Kurt Vonnegut short story, Welcome To The Monkey House, which I recommend. Others have already commented on the idea that fewer patients means lower medical expenditures- also not a new idea. One of Robin Cook’s novels has a medical insurance company killing patients to lower its payments.
It would be good if government stopped reading fiction and satire as instruction manuals. They’re intended as warnings, not suggestions.
So often it starts with something small and legitimate ("fifteen days to slow the spread") and then immediately turns to evil (your rights are indefinitely suspended based on lies).
No problem--it was a haunting movie. I think I remember a commercial for the Quietus kit and something about a mass ceremonial suicide in the “news” in the movie. Michael Caine’s character had a kit at his house in the woods.
What was portrayed was being the last person ~born~ on earth. That person was known. So when a pregnant woman appears, mysteriously, all the soldiers/paramilitaries, etc. saw her as a madonna and were greatly obeisant to her.
Intense indeed. There are several moving parts here. First is the obvious, that a young person in declining health is depressed and has decided that he wants to shuffle off the mortal coil. That’s sad in and of itself.
Second is his mother’s desperation because she’s about to lose her son. Also sad, desperately so.
Third is the sister, a nursing student, and who “helps” him with email. Did he expect her not to see the emails with Tepper? And once she saw them, not share that info with their mother? At this point things start smelling like a manipulation. Did he really want to die? Or was/is he crying for help? Sounds a lot like the latter, doesn’t it?
Finally, there’s MAiD, personified here by Tepper. The idea of state-assisted suicide isn’t new. In fact, it’s central to the Kurt Vonnegut short story, Welcome To The Monkey House, which I recommend. Others have already commented on the idea that fewer patients means lower medical expenditures- also not a new idea. One of Robin Cook’s novels has a medical insurance company killing patients to lower its payments.
It would be good if government stopped reading fiction and satire as instruction manuals. They’re intended as warnings, not suggestions.
So often it starts with something small and legitimate ("fifteen days to slow the spread") and then immediately turns to evil (your rights are indefinitely suspended based on lies).
Never let a crisis go to waste.
It reminded me of “Quietus” in the movie Children of Men (P.D. James novel of the same name).
I watched it about 12 years ago. The theme was kinda shocking, and yet we're seeing some it come true now. But I don't recall "Quietus." Remind me?
Quietus - from Hamlet’s To Be Or Not soliloquy
It’s a suicide kit for people over 60--government funded. When people reach this age they’re nudged to off themselves so as not to be a burden.
Thanks. I totally missed that in the movie.
No problem--it was a haunting movie. I think I remember a commercial for the Quietus kit and something about a mass ceremonial suicide in the “news” in the movie. Michael Caine’s character had a kit at his house in the woods.
Imagine being the very last person on earth
What was portrayed was being the last person ~born~ on earth. That person was known. So when a pregnant woman appears, mysteriously, all the soldiers/paramilitaries, etc. saw her as a madonna and were greatly obeisant to her.