Writing was forbidden in Stargate by the alien ruler Ra primarily to prevent future rebellions among the enslaved human population. This prohibition was a strategic measure to maintain his absolute control and suppress any form of organized resistance.
Ra, an ancient and powerful alien who had enslaved humans and transported them to various planets via the Stargate, feared a repeat of past uprisings. On Earth, humans had successfully rebelled against his rule, burying the Stargate to prevent his return. To ensure that similar insurrections did not occur on other planets, especially the one where humans were forced to mine the crucial Quartzite-like mineral essential for his technology, Ra implemented draconian laws.
Ra's Strategy for Control
The ban on reading and writing was a cornerstone of Ra's oppressive regime, designed to keep his human workforce subservient and ignorant.
- Suppression of Knowledge and Ideas: By outlawing literacy, Ra effectively stifled the spread of knowledge, critical thinking, and communication among the enslaved population. This prevented them from learning about their history, their true plight, or any means of challenging Ra's authority.
- Prevention of Organized Rebellion: Written communication is a powerful tool for coordination and planning. Ra's ban aimed to prevent the exchange of ideas, strategies, and calls to action that could lead to another organized rebellion. The inability to record or transmit information easily kept the populace fragmented and less capable of concerted resistance.
- Maintaining Ignorance: An illiterate population is easier to control and manipulate. Without access to written records or the ability to document events, the humans remained isolated in their daily lives, focused solely on labor without the intellectual tools to question their enslavement or Ra's 'divine' status.
This tyrannical prohibition ensured that Ra's dominion over the human population remained unchallenged, safeguarding his empire built upon their exploitation and the extraction of vital resources.
For more information about the film, you can visit the official Stargate (1994) IMDb page.
