At the heart of much speculative fiction (and fiction in general) is a question. What if? On Tuesdays I like to throw one out there and see what you make of it. Do with it as you please. If a for-instance is not specified, feel free to interpret that instance as you wish. And if you find this becomes a novel-length answer, I'd appreciate a thank you in the acknowledgements ;)
Two related questions today. These are not new questions, and in fact you probably have seen this play out in several stories (movies, TV, books, etc). As I was contemplating today's question, I couldn't decide which scenario would be worse, so I decided to ask them both. Pick either one.
What if the only way to defeat your enemy is to sacrifice yourself? What if the only way to defeat the awful, terrible foe is to sacrifice your closest, dearest friend?
I'm remembering the good times I had watching "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Angel" tv series back in the day. The sacrifices could be so heart-wrenching.
ReplyDeleteYup, they could.
DeleteI could probably sacrifice myself!
ReplyDeleteIf you get to pick one or the other, I think most of us would pick ourselves first.
DeleteI would rather sacrifice myself than a friend. At least I hope I would, if it came to that...
ReplyDeleteYeah, I think most of us would.
DeleteThis makes me think of the Star Trek episode where Troi kept failing an exam until she realized she had to sacrifice LaForge to save the day. I could not think which way I would go until i am faced with that decision. Turning around and running is not one is it:) ?
ReplyDeleteI do remember that episode. In this case, this is the question. Turning around and running would be a different scenario entirely.
DeleteI would give myself to keep from having to give a friend.
ReplyDeleteI think most people would, which is why the questions are separate.
DeleteI apparently just can't do that to a friend...so I guess I would try to offer myself first...maybe they would take me and then if they take my friend I will not be there to see it
DeleteDefinitely sacrifice myself; definitely not sacrifice a friend or a family member.
ReplyDeletebetty
friend "a person whom one knows and with whom one has a bond of mutual affection, typically exclusive of sexual or family relations." the key word is mutual. enemy "a person who is actively opposed or hostile to someone or something." The key word is active. So would the friend agree with the choice to save her, if not what next?
ReplyDeleteThat's kind of the point. What if the friend had to sacrifice him/herself? And yeah, it's a mutual enemy.
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