The National Anthem is the first episode of the anthology show Black Mirror, where the Prime Minister is forced to have intercourse with a pig in ransom for Princess Susannah's return. But what does it have to do with the anthem? Why is it called "The National Anthem"?
asked Nov 3, 2017 at 7:03
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2This is just a guess, but the British national anthem is titled "God Save the Queen" and, as a princess, Susannah would be somewhere in line to the throne... So, perhaps it's a reference to the extraordinary lengths the prime minister went to in the name of protecting the (potential/future) queen?– Steve-OCommented Nov 3, 2017 at 18:05
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3I think its just a poke at national pride. A nation's anthem is symbol of national pride, and the head of state is one as well. Given what ends up happening, I think it becomes pretty analogous.– David says Reinstate MonicaCommented Dec 31, 2017 at 7:42
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I haven't seen this episode, but I am wondering if Ayn Rand philosophy at all figures in--her novella is named Anthem and like a lot of her works, one can scrutinize her belief in objective realism as a kind of "self nationalism" vs her bigger argument that any given type of Government Nationalism is "wrong".– Darth LockeCommented Feb 13, 2018 at 18:40
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1 Answer
There are two reasons to chose the title.
Firstly, It is a reference to the British National Anthem.
The British National Anthem is God Save the Queen. The episode's main plot is about rescuing princess Susannah. She is the next successor of the throne of the Great Britain.
From springfields
Don't start now.
Whoever this is, is insane.
Prime Minister: And has a princess.
We'll get through this.
Wife: Not any princess - the princess.
The above are the words where The Prime Minister's wife says and emphasizes on THE. This means that the princess is important and the only one who is a successor of the throne. She would be the future queen. As the plot of the episode is rescuing her, the title is named such.
Another reason is that the incident has done something which an anthem would do that is make the people attentive and bring the people to a single opinion. People observe the incidents very curiously and attentively like they do to an anthem. So, this might be another reason why the episode is named such. [This seems less probable but not impossible].
answered Feb 13, 2018 at 12:34
