#bioshock 1

Just want to start this off w my bad for all the c.ai stuff years ago❤️ I have learnt, improved and grown. And become an adult, my bad gang xx

Now, here's my not so in-depth and brief analysis on Ryan's 'a man chooses' monologue❤️

So I've just been playing bioshock one again. And I truly forgot how beautifully written Ryan's monologue is. Well kinda forgot. I did spend the last 3 hours of play time forcing myself awake just to witness it with both the context of the twist and my current media literacy. But hey ho.

My main thoughts, in summary, is that it not only wraps the games story telling through visual choices and design incredibly well, but their use of language, and timing truly makes this monologue as impactful as its intended to be

In informal detail; my MAIN note that I enjoy about it is the feelings Ryan's words envoke. He repeats "a man chooses, a slave obeys" over and over. Slowly making it seem less figurative. But he also lives up to it, he is man of his word. You leave the interaction, Andrew dead, feeling the beginnings of betrayal. You start to realise just how much you've been lied to. But still, as a slave, you do one last thing for Atlas, Fontaine. And you do it this time knowing that you have no choice. You don't know why, you just know how. It solidifies the protagonist as a slave. Obeying orders without question, unable to do anything different.

And what's even more genius is Andrew being the 'mam choosing'. He knows it is Fontaine, he knows you've been told to kill him, forced to. Yet he's the one who ultimately decides when he dies. And he is not killed in a quick way, he makes sure it's slow. Letting you as the player, and the protagonist, truly feels the weight of the moment and the loss of control that you never had in the first place.

The moment truly encapsulates Ryan as the character he's been established to be. A capitalist, greedy and selfish by nature. But not stupid. He built a city just to be free, for the lack of control, for the glitz and glamour. And he dies on the hill he built. Just before it's snatched away from him.

Not only this, but it also establishes Ryan as the foil to Fontaine. Yes they are both greedy, hungry for power. But Fontaine is stealing it. He's a slave to his own ambition, wasted most of his life aiming for this dream that in the long run would of never lasted long. Not after Adam turned raptures population to splicers. You wants what Ryan has. Freedom. But still has to remove someone else's to achieve that. Whereas Andrew Ryan gave freedom. He gave people the power of self expression. Inna capitalist fashion yes, but still far morally superior to the much further right aligned Fontaine.

That point reminds me of another reason I loved the monologue. You not only feel the sickening feeling of betrayal, your complete lack of autonomy, but you don't feel just about killing Ryan. His death makes you feel more trapped yes, but it also forces you to agree with Ryan. Not his ideals yes, but you are forced to acknowledge his intelligence. His foresight, his ability to handle the situation. And this means alot when you've been forced and told again and again throughout hours of gameplay that he is evil. That he is your enemy. But, the enemy of my enemy is my friend. Fontaine is that true enemy. And you killed the only other man that could of done anything. (Yes Ik tenenbum helps you as Nd that hut you know what I mean)

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The use of visual story telling in his monologue is what I love so much about the first bioshock. And there is truly no price of media like it in my opinion. It's beautifully grotesque in a way that alligns with the messages - the story it's telling. That's why the medical pavilion stands out to me personally. You see Steinmann decent into madness both visually and through audiotapes. I'm probably gonna make another post about Steinmann and Steinmann alone. He's my favourite character and I find him incredibly interesting.

Chapters: 53/? Fandom: BioShock 1 & 2 (Video Games) Rating: Mature Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence Relationships: Original Female Character/Original Male Character, Brigid Tenenbaum & Original Character(s) Characters: Original Female Character(s), Brigid Tenenbaum, Frank Fontaine, Atlas (BioShock), Andrew Ryan, Original Male Character(s), Sander Cohen, Minor Bioshock Series Characters, Little Sister (BioShock) Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Alternate Universe - Gender Changes, Grief/Mourning, Trauma, Torture, Attempted Rape/Non-Con, Addiction, Body Horror, Atlas is Frank Fontaine, Would You Kindly (BioShock), Suicide Attempt, Implied Sexual Content, Allegory to rape, Not Beta Read, Sexual Content, Rapture (BioShock), Non-Explicit Sex Summary:

Chapters: 44/? Fandom: BioShock 1 & 2 (Video Games) Rating: Mature Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence Characters: Original Female Character(s), Brigid Tenenbaum, Frank Fontaine, Atlas (BioShock), Andrew Ryan, Original Male Character(s), Sander Cohen Additional Tags: Alternate Universe, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Alternate Universe - Gender Changes, Grief/Mourning, Trauma, Torture, Attempted Rape/Non-Con, Addiction, Body Horror, Atlas is Frank Fontaine, Would You Kindly (BioShock), Suicide Attempt, Implied Sexual Content, Allegory to rape, Not Beta Read Summary: 

"Jackie." He smiled warmly, like he was greeting an old friend rather than a stranger he only ever spoken to over a radio. "Atlas. I'm the bastard who's managed to keep you alive this whole time."

He extended his hand. She hesitated.

Up until now, Atlas had only been a voice. A steady, reassuring, disembodied voice. it was easy to trust. A man was different.

Still, after everything they had been through together, refusing felt almost absurd. She slipped her hand into his.

Fanfiction: It’s Just a Burning Memory