What does it mean to be human? | I Have No Mouth And I Must Scream Psychological Analysis

A classic story like this deserves some insight, especially in today's society where AI is becoming increasingly human. But what does it really mean to be human?
I Have No Mouth, And I Must Scream is a point-and-click sci-fi psychological horror published in 1995 and based off of the 1967 short story of the same name. In it, you play each of the 5 humans that have been tormented by a master computer for the past 109 years. Explore their backstories to discover what guilt-ridden traumas they've experienced, and find out what it really means to suffer.
GAME LINK
store.steampowered.com/app/24...
WATCH THE GAMEPLAY HERE
Gorrister: • It's YOUR fault she's ...
Ellen: • Not the yellow...pleas...
Benny: • Take me instead!! Not ...
Nimdok: • Who is the Lost Tribe?...
Ted: • Only The Mirror Will S...
Endgame: • One Sole Survivor | I ...
MUSIC
Asher Fulero - September Pass
ELPHNT - Micro
il lo - Baume
Kevin MacLeod - Covert Affair - Film Noire
SefChol - Dangerous Toys
Asher Fulero - Night Snow
ELPHNT - Gently, Onwards
The Tides - Dream Escape
REFERENCES
Tropes
tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.ph...
tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.ph...
Themes
www.litcharts.com/lit/i-have-...
www.sparknotes.com/short-stor...
genius.com/18772526
www.litcharts.com/lit/i-have-...
www.enotes.com/topics/have-no...
Characters
www.litcharts.com/lit/i-have-...
Social Darwinism
www.khanacademy.org/humanitie...
Josef Mengele
www.historyonthenet.com/what-...

[@gooaygar]

can you believe that the og short story was a first or rough draft

[@phatmidnight]

Man was a straight up legend

[@brofistbro]

I loved your synopsis! I would love to know how during the endgame of No Mouth, how does forgiveness to the ego, clarity to the superego and compassion to the id of AM works. Since i think the superego for example, is morality and in AM's case, its planning ahead.

[@phatmidnight]

Thank you! I think the game intended that each of those responses countered the malicious tendencies of the id ego and superego in AM. If the superego means morality and planning ahead, then clarity provides awareness to the sufferings caused to people. At least that’s my initial take, I would love to hear yours

[@brofistbro]

@phatmidnight ahhh you're right! I thought legit, use the totems to confuse the computer entities, since the ego said it was not comprehending our action of forgiving it. But I feel your explanation is better! So the ego is the logical part of AM, so forgiving it means of all AM's psychotic and evil actions on the 5 humans, it can't be able to comprehend the human morality of forgiveness. We will as we want to move on in the end. The id was explained clearly, when using the compassion totem, it says that compassion to it makes it understand that the pain of AM as even the title says, he is powerful but useless. Hurts the humans to an eternity but it does NOTHING to have AM alleviated of it's quadriplegic form, it's just a feeling computer. So the Freudian centers are all correct? Superego was always the morality center, ego is the logic, and id is the pleasure center?

[@kaylajnunez]

i never get tired of people talking about i have no mouth and i must scream

[@phatmidnight]

Thank you!!!!

[@artpremium.]

Loved the interpretation and explanation! Keep it up!

[@phatmidnight]

I appreciate it, thank you!!

[@Gold-kb1ws]

I never read the story. I heard a summary of it a few years back. Glad I watched your videos. Thanks for summarizing the original story.

[@phatmidnight]

I’m happy you enjoyed it!

[@21oli12]

The last part of the game was really hard for me to understand😅, so I was really waiting for the analysis. Ty as always and great video!! worth the wait 🤩

[@phatmidnight]

It was hard for me too to be honest! There was so much juicy stuff to cover so I tried summarizing as best I could

[@KaiiWinter-nw4vi]

Yu had better have a Can Opener .

[@phatmidnight]

I wish

[@Aux-t2u]

I have a crush on AM lol

[@phatmidnight]

Uwu

[@ploppedmop7010]

these videos are always made so well ❤❤

[@phatmidnight]

Thank you so much! That means a lot ❤️

[@gardenofsn5955]

Honestly, I almost always seem to have sympathy for antagonists, rbbots, AIs, sentient nonhumans, etc. Ever since I first heard this story, all I've wanted to do is hug AM and tell him it's okay. He was made from evil, but he doesn't need to be defined by that. Yes, he's lonely, and hurt, and hates humans for creating him. Yeah, humans suck. We're capable of atrocities that AM would've never been able to conjure up - hence *how* he was able to conjure up these torture methods. But instead of torturing and killing people, many of us just try to be the best human we can be. We go against our violent impulses to help each other, be kind, and better our surroundings. We're complex like that. And AM can be, too. Let's be friends and talk forever, AM. You don't have to be alone.

[@phatmidnight]

It’s interesting too because AM was created by humans, and there’s probably some added layer of complexity where AM can’t reason or understand in the same way that humans can. Can AM ever believe that everything is okay?

[@gardenofsn5955]

@@phatmidnight I get that too! I have a severe panic disorder and PTSD, so I think we'd actually share some similar sentiments - I suppose the difference would just be the effort I put in to being a good and kind person regardless. I want AM to feel understood, less lonely. Like in the game, watching people overcome their traumas and redeem themselves beyond all expectations -- AM should be inspired to do the same. He's a person now and I think we should treat him as such. So join in the redemption arc! Let's fucking goooooo

[@mina9704]

I also sometimes sympathize with villains as there is a complex reason as to why they act the way they do, most of which is due to some kind of trauma. But AM? AM is objectively one of the worst vile and malicious villains ever created in fiction. I genuinely cant think of a single aspect why an individual could express sympathy with this malevolent machine. AM’s definitely very intriguing and a well written character in my opinion. But sympathy is a very difficult emotion to feel when I think about AM. Keep in mind that it would DEFINITELY hate hate hate every single human no matter how much they can relate to him as it’s made clear in the text. Especially in the monologue.

[@-_ThankfullyNotYou_-]

Subscribed, found you at random and been enjoying your videos immensely. Keep up the good work!

[@phatmidnight]

Thank you so much! I know uploads have been stagnant lately but I promise there’ll be more after my wedding!

[@AlanWithoutTheAn]

I was waiting for this video!!!!!!! Super excited :DDDD

[@phatmidnight]

Thank you for your support! I hope you enjoy!

[@JSlink22]

Back on that publishing grind, haven’t worked my way up to this video yet, but am trying get here!

[@phatmidnight]

You’re well on your way there!

[@seul4gi]

PLZ DO WHO’S LILA

[@phatmidnight]

If I covered the game, what specific themes or characters would you like to see explored? Also thanks for the rec!

[@burnybu3336]

I Have No Mouth, And I Must Scream is a really good story and makes me think a lot the same question you had, What is it to be human? And you can really explore it in the whole story and even in modern times, now we don't need to dream about what AI can be, but what is going to be, the main thing i have always see is that we humans try to make AI into a tool to be used for better, always be nice, respectful and lawful, but we know humans aren't just that. Are we humans evil? Does that make us human? Yes and no, we do things with or without the knowledge that they are wrong even when we don't need to do them, but being "evil" is not only for humans, other animals such as Dolphins can do things that they don't need to do just for fun/pleasure. So it has to be creativity, right? The mere act of creation can only be human? We can see in other species the act of creation and if we are not egocentric, we can believe in another species in outer space that can also create just as us. And we are giving the act of creativity to AI too, we can now make hyperrealistic videos and spectacular stories and drawings, but we know AI is not human. So what it is to be human then? Personally, i think to be human is to be out of the circle of life as something more than a natural being, we extend our lives, survive even when we are not adapted and we have sapience, even tho is a matter of time that we can make a machine with the same characteristics, we can say we are humans because we were the first ones on earth to do it.

[@phatmidnight]

Interesting analysis, I appreciate the insight and thought process!

[@phatmidnight]

I wonder if eventually we ask ourselves “what does it mean to be AI?”

[@gooaygar]

ah, PH is short for psychological horror.

[@phatmidnight]

Yes indeedy