Recurring Themes

Throughout the Traitor series' storyline, there are certain themes, symbols, and motifs that regularly reappear. Here is a list of some of the major **recurring themes** in the series.

### Free Will & Choice

**"It's a big world with little choice here, Jake."**

**- Kate Heavenhound**

The idea of linearity, and a "lack of choice," is one of the Traitor series' fundamental themes. Throughout the series it is left ambiguous whether or not characters such as Mike or Kate have any free will at all. It even serves a reference to how Charmer, the series' creator can shape and bend the story as much as possible. This can even be used to interpret Ink Max, who constantly attempts to change events from happening in order for things to go his way.

Through this blending of its characters and storyline, Traitor comments on the nature of free will in media, suggesting that choice is never more than an illusion in a story; if Ink Max represents the designers of a story then, just as Kate is never free due to Ink Max's manipulation, the veiwers of a piece of media can never be free due to the manipulation of the designers.

### Science Gone Wrong

**"Polk's mistakes cost him his own life"**

**- Ink Max**

'Science gone wrong' is an important theme in the Traitor series, as it is the driving force behind the series' entire storyline. It is the failure of an experiment that triggers the birth of the Ink Trio, and this failure has very far-reaching consequences felt throughout the entire series. It is this mistake that leads to the Ink Trio's plot of global takeover, and ultimately the studio's invasion of The Trio Authority.

Misuse of science is also reflected by The Authority; many of it's methods of control and suppression use science and technology to horrific effect. The Wretched are an example, being the product of brutal Authority alteration, and having their humanity almost completely removed. Similarly, the creation of a Bloodtrooper is an invasive procedure involving extensive surgery and alteration, including mind-replacement. Other examples include the contamination of water to cause citizens to gradually forget their past, use of Manhacks to painfully flush out hiding resistance members, and the implementation of a suppression field to prevent the Ink People from reproducing, effectively condemning them to a slow extinction.

The series presents the dilemma of whether or not to use a highly unpredictable and possibly uncontrollable piece of technology to further the goals of humanity, which ties back into the initial conflict of the series, and the overarching theme of the dangers of uncontrolled science.

### Freedom V.S. Enslavement

**"Most of them can't remember the past in their pathetic lives"**

**- Atmiradge**

The ideas of freedom and enslavement are very important themes throughout the Traitor series, reflected by many of the races and factions.

The Trio Authority enslaves hundreds of Ink People to construct Project 7-99, who end up dying of starvation or are executed due to incompetence. In response to this and much more, both humanity and the cartoons unite to form the Rebellion, with the common goal of overthrowing The Authority and regaining their freedom. The Rebellion's struggle for freedom against The Authority is one of the most important and significant conflicts in the Traitor series, being the driving force of it's plot.

### Loss Of Humanity

**"The longer I'm here, I feel like I'm going insane."**

**- Jake Birch**

The loss of humanity is a recurring theme, primarily in Traitor. It is reflected in the transhuman branch of the Black Ops, as to join the higher levels of the Authority Black Ops, one must undergo extensive and invasive surgery, essentially sacrificing more and more of their humanity to ascend in the ranks.

Authority Donnas also reflect this. As was stated by Charmer, Donnas were once an organic race not unlike humans and watched over The Authority, limiting The Ink Trio's power. Over time, however, they became completely reliant on technology to improve their quality of life, which eventually caused them to devolve into a present 'obese-like' form. This of course was a plan made by the Ink Trio in order to forcefully gain the upper hand in the fight for power.

Other examples include The Wretched, humans who have had their humanity forcefully stripped away. The Wretched have undergone brutal physical and mental alteration, leaving them horrifically deformed and effectively mindless. They bear very little resemblance to regular humans, missing many of their internal organs, as well as most of their muscle or body fat, and having various mechanical limbs attached.

### Bureaucratic Dystopia

**"The Authority has no time for the people's opinion"**

**- Security Max**

Traitor grips to the idea of a failed attempt of a perfect utopia. Falsehood is spread throughout the series as Ink Max attempts to control the public and convince them this is much better than the society outside. Original ideas suggested that the studio's underground levels would be bustling city-type settings with controlling forces around the corners. Despite several complaints, The Authority continues to disregard the people's opinion and sets to silence them if one is to speak aloud.