The Deceptiveness of Symbols
The TARDIS, a vessel embodying infinite possibility, becomes a contested symbol embodying deception, prophecy, and hope. To Cassandra, it is a Greek omen of doom; to Priam, a potential trophy; to Paris, a tool for his ego; and to Vicki, her last line of survival. Even the Trojan military’s handling of it and the Priestess’s ritualizing of its destruction reduce it to a symbol stripped of its true nature. This reflects how symbols are weaponized by those in power—whether to justify violence, assert control, or manipulate belief. The story critiques the human tendency to infuse objects (and people) with meaning beyond their intrinsic value, often at great cost.
Events Exemplifying This Theme
The TARDIS, disguised as a captured Greek shrine, is paraded into Troy by Paris, who presents it to King Priam as a trophy of war. Priam’s initial skepticism turns to …
In the heart of Troy’s city square, Paris presents the TARDIS—mistaken for a captured Greek shrine—to King Priam, who dismisses it as a worthless trophy. Cassandra, Troy’s High Priestess, immediately …
Vicki’s sudden emergence from the TARDIS in Troy’s city square disrupts Priam’s plan to destroy the ship, forcing her to defend her identity as a time traveler. Cassandra immediately brands …