Is Free Will an Illusion? – Squid Game Season 2 (Salesman Edition)

The concept of free will is a big theme in Squid Game season 2. Does it exist, or is it merely an illusion? This is a question we see The Salesman struggle with. This season, we observe how The Salesman – in his free time – approaches homeless people, giving them the choice of choosing between bread or a lottery ticket. Everyone, except one, chooses the lottery ticket. When everyone has made their choice, he then proceeds to throw all the remaining bread on the ground, for everyone’s view, and stomps on the bread repeatedly. All the homeless people where taken back by his action, and one of them even tries to intervene – telling him that he is wasting food. The Salesman responds to that statement, stating:

“I’m not the one here who wasted this! That was you people.”

This action by The Salesman shows his internal struggle with his identity. Why does he spend his free time doing this? To convince himself that he is not the villain. Because if free will does exist, then he is not a villain, he is just a man doing his job. These homeless people were not manipulated by him to choose the lottery ticket over the bread, so free will must exist right? Yet, we see him frustratingly stomping on the bread, why? He is frustrated because deep down believes – like player 456 – that these people are only choosing the lottery ticket due to their circumstances – free will is an illusion. They are already starving, and they have been for some time, choosing bread won’t keep their stomach full, and even if it does, they will continue to starve tomorrow. So why not take the chance and pick the lottery ticket, to see if they can escape their circumstances?

This internal battle that The Salesman is experiencing is also showcased by his expression. One-half of his face is illuminated by red light and shows a confident expression, one of certainty. He is not a villain, as free will exists. He is just doing his job. The other half of his face shows an expression of despair and is illuminated by blue light. This side of him believes that free will is an illusion, and he has chosen to play the role of recruiting vulnerable people to their deaths. The confident expression in red light showcases the devil within him, and the face of despair in blue light is the angel within him. Ironically, the players of The Squid Game have to press the red X to end the game and the blue O to continue.

He even refers to the players as rats. Why? Why does he make the effort to dehumanize them? Because, like Gi-hun (player 456), he deep down knows that free will does not exist, and by dehumanizing them, it becomes easier for him to fulfill his job.

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