Dehumanization in Systems of Power
The narrative dissects how institutions—both formal (slavery, imperial Rome) and informal (scholarly companionship on the TARDIS)—reduce individuals to commodities or pawns. Sevcheria and Didius treat Ian and Barbara as chattel, calculating their value and orchestrating their sale with clinical detachment. Similarly, Nero’s court values Maximus Pettulian (the Doctor) not for his identity, but as a tool to satisfy Nero’s artistic ego. Even the Doctor’s initial abandonment of his companions, prioritizing his curiosity over their safety, mirrors the systemic dehumanization he later confronts. This theme underscores the moral cost of power structures that treat humans as means to an end.
Events Exemplifying This Theme
In the bustling village market, the ruthless slave traders Didius and Sevcheria—desperate for high-value acquisitions before their journey to Rome—spot Barbara and Vicki as prime targets. Their vulnerability is immediately …
A slave buyer arrives at Didius’s tent, seeking replacements for his household. He immediately singles out Barbara as a 'British woman,' a rare and valuable commodity, offering to purchase her …
In a dimly lit tent, the transaction for Ian and other slaves reaches its final stage when the Buyer, having agreed to a price of a thousand coins, immediately accuses …
The Buyer selects Ian and two other captives for purchase, while Sevcheria—Barbara’s slave trader—explicitly excludes her from the sale, emphasizing her higher value. As Didius unshackles Ian, the moment forces …