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RANSOM - Ares' (E6) reckless impulsiveness: confronting the danger head on. The gambling nature of counterfobics: raising the stakes (too) high.

RANSOM - Ares' (E6) reckless impulsiveness: confronting the danger head on. The gambling nature of counterfobics: raising the stakes (too) high.

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Posted by Jan den Breejen on June 28, 1998 at 07:18:10:

Self-made airline magnate Tom Mullen (Gibson) and his beautiful wife Kate (Rene Russo) seem to have it all, until their young son Sean (Brawley Nolte) is kidnapped. The abductors, led bu lovers Marris Connor (Lili Taylor) and Jimmy Shaker (Gary Sinise), demand a $2 million ransom, and FBI agent Lonnie Hawkins (Delroy Lindo) recommends paying up. After a disastrous first drop attempt, Tom refuses to make a second, and instead goes on tv (the counterfobic act!) and offers the $2 million as a bounty on the kidnappers heads. Shaker, determined to get the money at any cost, eliminates his cohorts and role plays himself into the image of the boy's savior, but when he shows up later to collect the reward, Sean's terrified reaction to his voice tips E6 Tom (yes, 6's are vigilant!) off to the truth. They all take to the streets for the final shoot-out.

While the comparison of Mel Gibson and Adolf Hitler (also a self confessed gambler)is of course unsuitable and when looking to them as tangible persons; their are some striking similarities on the meta-level of enneatype. Hitler seemned to be a determined leader; in reality he was a doubting and suspicious person. An unhealthy man who switched between endless pondering of options and impulsive choice for the most reckless option to confront 'the danger'. He put off the invasion of France 24 times but then choose the most daring strategy for doing it. In the movie we see a similar kind of switching, unpredicatable behaviour with edgy protagonist Tom Mullen. Tom had paid ransom to 'authority' Jacky Brown (cowardly) which triggered Shaker to kidnap Tom's son Sean. But when faced with Jimmy Shaker Tom did the opposite: he choose the confrontation with 'authority' Shaker and turned the tables by the risky option of refusing to pay and promoting a $4 million reward for his capture. Hitler was convinced that Stalin was secretly out to attack Germany (with hindsight this was true indeed) and this suspicion launced a risky pre-emptive strike against the Soviet Union (the other 'conspiracy' Hitler feared was of course the world wide Jewish network.) Without any reason Hitler declared war on the United States when it went into war with Japan; this is another example of an irrational and reckless act born out of the idea of the need to keep in control of things by pre-emptive action. Counterfobic E6's seem to create or make worse stressfull situations; so there core competence VIGILANCE becomes of critical use. Some kind of addiction to stress and impulsive and reckless gambling is the hallmark of the counterfobic 6. 6's can't bear to have an uncertain/vague situation because then their mind gets crazy with worry (What if..). They prefer to look the (presumed) danger into the eyes, they want to un-veil it and are willing to make rash and dangerous choices (Tom Mullen puts at more risk the live of his son and his marriage). The other common meta-trait of Hitler and protagonist Tom Mullen is the E6-tendency to have problems with delegation. They do have no trust in others; so they must do the job themselves. I know 6-managers who have their agenda's overflowing with 'things to do' because they want to be with everything in order to be sure nothing gets wrong. Hitler was 'on line' directing the hopeless fighting of his soldiers in the streets of Stalingrad personally on a micro-level. This was ridiculous from a military point of view. An E8 would never have done this. E6's are no 'empowering' managers! I think E6's are over-represented in risky high level management positions, because they want to prove to the world and themselves they can do it. You can easily recognize them by their endless rattling on details which drives you mad because it can go on and on.

When looking to Greek Olympic mythology we see the ultimate reckless god personified in Ares. Ares is the god of war and strife. According to Jean Shinoda Bolen: 'His heart and instincts literally move him to act and react with hsi body, UNMINDFULL OF THE CONSEQUENCES' This disqualifies him as an E8; I would prefer a hundredt times to be in a car with an E8 rather than with a E6-counterfobic! Ares is the least respected of the greek gods because of his irrationality; he's the 'death wish' god, just like Mel Gibson in Lethal Weapon. According to Homer Ares was a contemptible, whining braggart, a maniac who went against authority E8 Zeus his orders. On the other hand he was also the dependent personality; complaining to Zeus about Athena who send one of her favorite heroes Diomedes to wound the Ares with a spear. A loser for sure in the eyes of Zeus! Just like Mel Gibson succeeds in attracting beautiful woman; Ares mated with Aphrodite and his children continued the E6 familiy values; the sons were called Deimos (fear) and Phobos (Panic). When Ares son Ascalaphus had been killed in battle during the Troyan war, Ares impetuously entered the fray to avenge him, even though Zeus had forbidden the gods to take part; 6's are so loyal! The parallel with the plot in Ransom is very clear. Shinoda Bolen's reseach into the Ares persona gives us some more key words: a kid, a buddy, tense muscles, clenched fists, elevated blood pressure, diarrhea (no E8 indeed), sensitivity, vulnerability, impulsive, interested by risky occupations, being shunned and scapegoated by his peers, craving for cameraderie (6-ish group think, groups offer security), lack of self esteem. And also Bolen remarks: 'Ares men were overrepresented as soldiers and casualities in the Vietnam War' (because of their reckless over-reactions).

The characters in Ransom can be typed as follows:

+++ Tom Mullen (Mel Gibson); Ares persona (E6-counterfobic)
The hallmark sentence of edgy Tom; 'I am so scared'. Even when playful at the party on behalf of his new promotional comapny video he expects verbal 'attack' and launches a verbal pre-emptive attack. This video production resulted in a lot of gooff ups because of Tom's nervousness. When he is told of the kidnap he immediately develops an unlikely worse scenario in which a prisoner Jacky Brown figures. Of course he meets the danger head on, goes against the rules/authority and has to do everything himself. His suspiciousness against the kidnappers killing his son in any case is right on the mark however. It's not easy to fool a 6; Tom also understands Shakers's role playing by being aware of the reaction of his son to Shaker's voice when he came to get the cheque. He also shows the 6-ish tendency to blame authority 'You killed my son' (to the police.) And we see the trait of 'pleading guilty' in order to be accepted again by the group or authority; 'I am sorry, I hope you can FORGIVE me' (there's a remote link with 6-ish masochism here.)

+++ Kate Mullen (Rene Russo); Ares persona (fobic)
'WHAT IF he is right?'The Mullens are a real 6 couple which of course is quite right for communicating the suspense to the viewer of the movie. Kate is a worrier; about the building contractor, the cold temperature in the house, she radiates helplessness, panicks and blames Tom; 'Why did you leave him?'. She also shows a counterfobic action of her own when she goes to the church to meet Shaker on his request So it is fobic? I always find it difficult to make a distinction to make a clear difference between fobic and non fobic; most 6's have some of both; that's why I use the Ares archetypes also for fobic 6-ishness.

+++ their son Sean Mullen (Brawly Nolte); perhaps the Apollo persona (E5)
Difficult to say at that age. The 'symptoms' are 5-ish; he wants to be a college professor, has worked a long time at a technical science project, inquisitive, quiet boy.

+++ prisoner Jacky Brown; the Poseidon persona (E1)
schoolmaster like explainer of the situation, angry and irritated at Tom; critical at Tom's perceived stupidity of thinking that he would be involved, scolding.

+++ kidnapper Maris Connor (Lily Taylor); the Poseidon persona (E1)
scolding and critical at Cubby Barnes; 'do you want to get a little relationship going with this kid?..Are you for real?..He's not your pet!...You're fucking drinking again' She also is nervous because her conscience turns against her and makes her want to correct things; her partner Shaker say's 'You are scared for your decency'. This makes a nice movie contrast with the opportunistic Shaker. She says 'He is RIGHT', wants to kill/punish herself and tries to punish/kill her lover Shaker for killing the technican and Clark Barnes.

+++ her partner Jimmy Shaker (Gary Sinese); the Hermes persona (E3)
The mastermind, calculated, goal focussed, opportunistic, uses people as long as he needs them and then dumps them, over-confident (thereby taking risks), thinks he can outsmart everybody and contempts 'loser' Tom Mullen for thinking he could be outsmarted himself: 'Bullshit ME? Who do you think you are dealing with?' Get's things done; 'You know I can do this, it's my problem'. Get's angry in a John McEnroe way when he is frustrated in reaching his goal (kicking at things); getting the $2 million. Shaker is also exemplary of 3-ishness in the sense that E3's allways have 'the right/effectful words' that hypnotize others so that they can get their way. When Shaker seems to be stuck because in the end of the movie two cops approach him and ask why he is wanted he say's 'It's a joke, it's my birthday' and gets away with it. His trying to cash the cheque even when the whole city is looking for him must be based on the 3-ish confidence that they can win the game; meet every challenge. Or?? If 3's are really confident; why would they so obsessively need to succeed? Things are not what they seem and 3's are no exemption to this rule.
He is obsessed with the money but tries to boost his image/deed by seeing himself as a tragic Morlock character from a movie (no; he's no 4!)

+++ kidnapper Cubby Barnes (Donnie Wahlberg); the Metis/Aphrodite persona (E2)
His empathic feelings towards the fate of the boy Sean don't fit at all in the criminal scene! He probably couldn't say no when he was asked by his brother Clark to participate in the kidnap. 'I know this is hard for you...I get you back to your parents; I promise' He (not so smart; 2's are related to 9's) tries to buy childrens videotapes and sweets in a shop crowded with cops and is harshly 'corrected' by Shaker. He refuses to hurt the child. Too sweet for his world (he is shot.)

+++ Cubby's brother Clark Barnes (Liev Schreiber; Ares persona (E6 fobic)
Panicks when his brother is shot; wants to kill his mother (dependent persona) and thereby bring the kidnap 'project' into danger. Blaming 'authority' Jimmy: 'You shaked up!'. Stressed, nervous breakdown; 'they are looking for me now... I can't go back to my life...what do YOU want me to do, YOU tell me...(dependent again!)' He's oscillating between loyalty and wanting to leave it all and 'flight in fright'. Cat on a hot roof-feeling; his brother is caught an now he is lost too.

+++ Agent Lonnie Hawkins; Metis/Aphrodite persona (E2)
the black empathic (nice and dominant) police officer, wanting to help Tom even when he has to quit his job '...give her a big hug from me'

+++ the sound technican-criminal; Apollo persona (E5)
Gives the impression of being totally withhout emotion/feeling; when Clark has his breakdown because of his brother being shot he says: 'You can't go to your brother's funeral either'; distant and non emotional, nerdy quiet worker; seems to registrate/observe live and make a cynical Dilbertish comment periodically. Most 5's are shot by their bosses in thrillers or killed otherwise (see the bloody fate of the fat jewish computer criminal in Jurassic Park.) 5's are clever but they lack the social skills to be succesful seems to be the message of the movie-makers.

+++ stressed David (employee with Tom's company); Ares (E6-fobic)
loyal to Tom. doesn't dare to give Kate money to pay Shaker; 'I can't do it, he's my boss...'

That's all folks.

Follow Ups:

Re: RANSOM - Ares' (E6) reckless impulsiveness: confronting the danger head on. The gambling nature of counterfobics: raising the stakes (too) high. Dave 22:42:19 6/28/98 (3)
- Re: RANSOM - Ares' (E6) reckless impulsiveness: confronting the danger head on. The gambling nature of counterfobics: raising the stakes (too) high. Jan den Breejen 02:16:03 6/29/98 (2)
  - Re: RANSOM - Ares' (E6) reckless impulsiveness: confronting the danger head on. The gambling nature of counterfobics: raising the stakes (too) high. Dave 13:28:09 6/29/98 (1)
    - Re: RANSOM - Ares' (E6) reckless impulsiveness: confronting the danger head on. The gambling nature of counterfobics: raising the stakes (too) high. Jan den Breejen 16:34:45 6/30/98 (0)

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: Self-made airline magnate Tom Mullen (Gibson) and his beautiful wife Kate (Rene Russo) seem to have it all, until their young son Sean (Brawley Nolte) is kidnapped. The abductors, led bu lovers Marris Connor (Lili Taylor) and Jimmy Shaker (Gary Sinise), demand a $2 million ransom, and FBI agent Lonnie Hawkins (Delroy Lindo) recommends paying up. After a disastrous first drop attempt, Tom refuses to make a second, and instead goes on tv (the counterfobic act!) and offers the $2 million as a bounty on the kidnappers heads. Shaker, determined to get the money at any cost, eliminates his cohorts and role plays himself into the image of the boy's savior, but when he shows up later to collect the reward, Sean's terrified reaction to his voice tips E6 Tom (yes, 6's are vigilant!) off to the truth. They all take to the streets for the final shoot-out. : While the comparison of Mel Gibson and Adolf Hitler (also a self confessed gambler)is of course unsuitable and when looking to them as tangible persons; their are some striking similarities on the meta-level of enneatype. Hitler seemned to be a determined leader; in reality he was a doubting and suspicious person. An unhealthy man who switched between endless pondering of options and impulsive choice for the most reckless option to confront 'the danger'. He put off the invasion of France 24 times but then choose the most daring strategy for doing it. In the movie we see a similar kind of switching, unpredicatable behaviour with edgy protagonist Tom Mullen. Tom had paid ransom to 'authority' Jacky Brown (cowardly) which triggered Shaker to kidnap Tom's son Sean. But when faced with Jimmy Shaker Tom did the opposite: he choose the confrontation with 'authority' Shaker and turned the tables by the risky option of refusing to pay and promoting a $4 million reward for his capture. Hitler was convinced that Stalin was secretly out to attack Germany (with hindsight this was true indeed) and this suspicion launced a risky pre-emptive strike against the Soviet Union (the other 'conspiracy' Hitler feared was of course the world wide Jewish network.) Without any reason Hitler declared war on the United States when it went into war with Japan; this is another example of an irrational and reckless act born out of the idea of the need to keep in control of things by pre-emptive action. Counterfobic E6's seem to create or make worse stressfull situations; so there core competence VIGILANCE becomes of critical use. Some kind of addiction to stress and impulsive and reckless gambling is the hallmark of the counterfobic 6. 6's can't bear to have an uncertain/vague situation because then their mind gets crazy with worry (What if..). They prefer to look the (presumed) danger into the eyes, they want to un-veil it and are willing to make rash and dangerous choices (Tom Mullen puts at more risk the live of his son and his marriage). The other common meta-trait of Hitler and protagonist Tom Mullen is the E6-tendency to have problems with delegation. They do have no trust in others; so they must do the job themselves. I know 6-managers who have their agenda's overflowing with 'things to do' because they want to be with everything in order to be sure nothing gets wrong. Hitler was 'on line' directing the hopeless fighting of his soldiers in the streets of Stalingrad personally on a micro-level. This was ridiculous from a military point of view. An E8 would never have done this. E6's are no 'empowering' managers! I think E6's are over-represented in risky high level management positions, because they want to prove to the world and themselves they can do it. You can easily recognize them by their endless rattling on details which drives you mad because it can go on and on. : When looking to Greek Olympic mythology we see the ultimate reckless god personified in Ares. Ares is the god of war and strife. According to Jean Shinoda Bolen: 'His heart and instincts literally move him to act and react with hsi body, UNMINDFULL OF THE CONSEQUENCES' This disqualifies him as an E8; I would prefer a hundredt times to be in a car with an E8 rather than with a E6-counterfobic! Ares is the least respected of the greek gods because of his irrationality; he's the 'death wish' god, just like Mel Gibson in Lethal Weapon. According to Homer Ares was a contemptible, whining braggart, a maniac who went against authority E8 Zeus his orders. On the other hand he was also the dependent personality; complaining to Zeus about Athena who send one of her favorite heroes Diomedes to wound the Ares with a spear. A loser for sure in the eyes of Zeus! Just like Mel Gibson succeeds in attracting beautiful woman; Ares mated with Aphrodite and his children continued the E6 familiy values; the sons were called Deimos (fear) and Phobos (Panic). When Ares son Ascalaphus had been killed in battle during the Troyan war, Ares impetuously entered the fray to avenge him, even though Zeus had forbidden the gods to take part; 6's are so loyal! The parallel with the plot in Ransom is very clear. Shinoda Bolen's reseach into the Ares persona gives us some more key words: a kid, a buddy, tense muscles, clenched fists, elevated blood pressure, diarrhea (no E8 indeed), sensitivity, vulnerability, impulsive, interested by risky occupations, being shunned and scapegoated by his peers, craving for cameraderie (6-ish group think, groups offer security), lack of self esteem. And also Bolen remarks: 'Ares men were overrepresented as soldiers and casualities in the Vietnam War' (because of their reckless over-reactions). : The characters in Ransom can be typed as follows: : +++ Tom Mullen (Mel Gibson); Ares persona (E6-counterfobic) : The hallmark sentence of edgy Tom; 'I am so scared'. Even when playful at the party on behalf of his new promotional comapny video he expects verbal 'attack' and launches a verbal pre-emptive attack. This video production resulted in a lot of gooff ups because of Tom's nervousness. When he is told of the kidnap he immediately develops an unlikely worse scenario in which a prisoner Jacky Brown figures. Of course he meets the danger head on, goes against the rules/authority and has to do everything himself. His suspiciousness against the kidnappers killing his son in any case is right on the mark however. It's not easy to fool a 6; Tom also understands Shakers's role playing by being aware of the reaction of his son to Shaker's voice when he came to get the cheque. He also shows the 6-ish tendency to blame authority 'You killed my son' (to the police.) And we see the trait of 'pleading guilty' in order to be accepted again by the group or authority; 'I am sorry, I hope you can FORGIVE me' (there's a remote link with 6-ish masochism here.) : +++ Kate Mullen (Rene Russo); Ares persona (fobic) : 'WHAT IF he is right?'The Mullens are a real 6 couple which of course is quite right for communicating the suspense to the viewer of the movie. Kate is a worrier; about the building contractor, the cold temperature in the house, she radiates helplessness, panicks and blames Tom; 'Why did you leave him?'. She also shows a counterfobic action of her own when she goes to the church to meet Shaker on his request So it is fobic? I always find it difficult to make a distinction to make a clear difference between fobic and non fobic; most 6's have some of both; that's why I use the Ares archetypes also for fobic 6-ishness. : +++ their son Sean Mullen (Brawly Nolte); perhaps the Apollo persona (E5) : Difficult to say at that age. The 'symptoms' are 5-ish; he wants to be a college professor, has worked a long time at a technical science project, inquisitive, quiet boy. : +++ prisoner Jacky Brown; the Poseidon persona (E1) : schoolmaster like explainer of the situation, angry and irritated at Tom; critical at Tom's perceived stupidity of thinking that he would be involved, scolding. : +++ kidnapper Maris Connor (Lily Taylor); the Poseidon persona (E1) : scolding and critical at Cubby Barnes; 'do you want to get a little relationship going with this kid?..Are you for real?..He's not your pet!...You're fucking drinking again' She also is nervous because her conscience turns against her and makes her want to correct things; her partner Shaker say's 'You are scared for your decency'. This makes a nice movie contrast with the opportunistic Shaker. She says 'He is RIGHT', wants to kill/punish herself and tries to punish/kill her lover Shaker for killing the technican and Clark Barnes. : +++ her partner Jimmy Shaker (Gary Sinese); the Hermes persona (E3) : The mastermind, calculated, goal focussed, opportunistic, uses people as long as he needs them and then dumps them, over-confident (thereby taking risks), thinks he can outsmart everybody and contempts 'loser' Tom Mullen for thinking he could be outsmarted himself: 'Bullshit ME? Who do you think you are dealing with?' Get's things done; 'You know I can do this, it's my problem'. Get's angry in a John McEnroe way when he is frustrated in reaching his goal (kicking at things); getting the $2 million. Shaker is also exemplary of 3-ishness in the sense that E3's allways have 'the right/effectful words' that hypnotize others so that they can get their way. When Shaker seems to be stuck because in the end of the movie two cops approach him and ask why he is wanted he say's 'It's a joke, it's my birthday' and gets away with it. His trying to cash the cheque even when the whole city is looking for him must be based on the 3-ish confidence that they can win the game; meet every challenge. Or?? If 3's are really confident; why would they so obsessively need to succeed? Things are not what they seem and 3's are no exemption to this rule. : He is obsessed with the money but tries to boost his image/deed by seeing himself as a tragic Morlock character from a movie (no; he's no 4!) : +++ kidnapper Cubby Barnes (Donnie Wahlberg); the Metis/Aphrodite persona (E2) : His empathic feelings towards the fate of the boy Sean don't fit at all in the criminal scene! He probably couldn't say no when he was asked by his brother Clark to participate in the kidnap. 'I know this is hard for you...I get you back to your parents; I promise' He (not so smart; 2's are related to 9's) tries to buy childrens videotapes and sweets in a shop crowded with cops and is harshly 'corrected' by Shaker. He refuses to hurt the child. Too sweet for his world (he is shot.) : +++ Cubby's brother Clark Barnes (Liev Schreiber; Ares persona (E6 fobic) : Panicks when his brother is shot; wants to kill his mother (dependent persona) and thereby bring the kidnap 'project' into danger. Blaming 'authority' Jimmy: 'You shaked up!'. Stressed, nervous breakdown; 'they are looking for me now... I can't go back to my life...what do YOU want me to do, YOU tell me...(dependent again!)' He's oscillating between loyalty and wanting to leave it all and 'flight in fright'. Cat on a hot roof-feeling; his brother is caught an now he is lost too. : +++ Agent Lonnie Hawkins; Metis/Aphrodite persona (E2) : the black empathic (nice and dominant) police officer, wanting to help Tom even when he has to quit his job '...give her a big hug from me' : +++ the sound technican-criminal; Apollo persona (E5) : Gives the impression of being totally withhout emotion/feeling; when Clark has his breakdown because of his brother being shot he says: 'You can't go to your brother's funeral either'; distant and non emotional, nerdy quiet worker; seems to registrate/observe live and make a cynical Dilbertish comment periodically. Most 5's are shot by their bosses in thrillers or killed otherwise (see the bloody fate of the fat jewish computer criminal in Jurassic Park.) 5's are clever but they lack the social skills to be succesful seems to be the message of the movie-makers. : +++ stressed David (employee with Tom's company); Ares (E6-fobic) : loyal to Tom. doesn't dare to give Kate money to pay Shaker; 'I can't do it, he's my boss...' : That's all folks.

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