Hey friend! Have you watched the disturbing, binge-worthy Netflix show Squid Game yet? If not, stop reading here to avoid spoilers! For those who have seen it, let‘s take a deeper dive into the symbolism and psychology behind the masked soldiers who enforce the deadly games.
Introducing the Show‘s Premise
Squid Game tells the story of hundreds of cash-strapped players competing in traditional Korean children‘s games for the chance to win a life-changing ₩45.6 billion prize. But in this version, losing any game means death!
The players‘ survival is dependent on beating fellow contestants while also avoiding being killed by the ominous soldiers who ensure strict adherence to the games‘ ruthless rules.
Let‘s unpack what these creepy masked guards represent both literally and symbolically.
The Different Soldier Ranks
The guards, also known as "pink soldiers" or "masked men," belong to an elaborate hierarchy denoted by the shapes on their masks:
| Mask shape | Rank | Duties |
|---|---|---|
| Circle | Lowest | Manual labor and cleaning |
| Triangle | Middle | Armed enforcers and player control |
| Square | Highest | Overseeing operations and circles/triangles |
The hierarchy reinforces the show‘s themes around social stratification and control. But more on that later!
Now let‘s dive deeper into that creepy mask imagery…
The Symbolic Meaning of the Masks
The blank, dehumanized masks are central to the uneasy vibe of the guards. Here‘s some of the key symbolism behind the masks:
Anonymity – The masks strip away individual identities, preventing culpability for violence against players. This echoes how anonymity has enabled atrocities ranging from public lynchings to firing squads.
Dehumanization – Masking their faces transforms the guards from people into robotic, amoral agents of the game itself. The soldiers become extensions of the game rather than moral beings.
Detachment – By removing visible humanity, the masks allow guards to detach emotionally from the players as fellow human beings. Players become objects rather than individuals with feelings.
Power Imbalance – The faceless guards towering over vulnerable, unmasked players visually represents the severe power imbalance between the two groups.
Masks enable the soldiers to avoid confronting the humanity of those they brutalize and kill. Now let‘s look at how this impacts their behavior…
How Masks Enable Cruelty and Violence
By hiding behind masks, the guards become capable of committing severe acts of cruelty and violence against the players, including:
- Shooting, beating or otherwise causing the deaths of players
- Forcibly dragging away dead bodies
- Verbally abusing and intimidating players
- Showing no empathy for injured, suffering players
- Treating players as objects or cattle rather than people
This reflects the real-world concept of deindividuation – how anonymity can dissolve individual identity and loosen moral restraints on behavior.
Psychology studies show people‘s behavior depends largely on how anonymous they feel. For example, Ku Klux Klan masks enabled brutal racism. Egyptian executioners wore masks to avoid culpability when killing prisoners.
What might happen if those soldiers had to brutalize players while unmasked?
Broader Themes About Power and Dehumanization
The masked guards tie into some of the show‘s central themes:
- How social hierarchies and unquestioning obedience to authority enables oppression
- The process of dehumanization that leads ordinary people to commit atrocities
- How anonymity grants permission to suspend morality
- The corrupting influence of extreme power differentials
The soldiers represent how everyday people can become agents of cruelty given the right social context. Their identities might be hidden, but the masks reveal darker truths about human psychology.
The show also suggests parallels to real-world power structures. The soldier ranks resemble political regimes invested in control and surveillance of citizens. The grinding violence of the games echoes oppressive institutions and sadistic authority figures throughout history.
What do the pink uniforms represent to you symbolically? The colors seem child-like, but the duties are monstrous…
Final Thoughts
While the guards‘ identities remain a mystery, their masks shed light on the psychological mechanisms that enable violence and dehumanization. The show‘s creators use this imagery to fashion a potent warning about unchecked power and obedience.
Squid Game‘s designers have constructed an impactful dystopian fable for our times. The soldiers will continue to spawn discussion about authoritarianism, morality and human nature. What other symbolic meanings do you see in their masks and role in the games? Let me know your thoughts!
