Exploring the Mythology Created by Lumon, Its Implications, and Possible Interpretations
This article has been updated with new information revealed in episode 8. We now delve deeper into the connection between Dieter and diethyl ether. Additionally, we explore a new theory linking Lumon’s mythology to Greek mythology.
The mythology of Kier and Dieter’s Walk, introduced in episode 2×04 of Severance, represents one of the most intriguing elements of Lumon’s universe. According to the narrative presented to the innies during the RAECE (Recreational Outdoor Event and Corporate Enrichment), this journey dates back to a legendary event in the corporation’s history, involving Kier Eagan and his supposed twin brother, Dieter.
Lumon’s mythology extends beyond Kier and Dieter’s Walk. Episode 2×08 unveils the Nine Principles and Sissy Cobel’s role in the company’s indoctrination. Learn more here: Lumon Mythology in Severance: Mysteries of Episode 2×08. We also have Dieter’s mythology update in the current article.
The Legend of Kier and Dieter
According to the records presented at the retreat, Kier and Dieter traveled through the Dieter Eagan National Forest until they reached the Valley of Affliction. While Kier embodied the model of righteousness and order that Lumon glorifies, Dieter symbolized resistance and defiance against the company’s rules. During the journey, Dieter refused to follow Kier’s directives and, as a result, underwent a grotesque transformation, “dissolving” into the surrounding environment.
Below is the transcription of the excerpt from the book:
— Once concealed by flora, my brother unfastened himself. The din of his fervor fell strangely into concert with the music of the woods. His every thrust found rhythm with the trill of the crickets, the moaning of the wind, and the yearly thaw of the snowfall. That night, Dieter became an instrument of nature, and nature played Dieter with elegance. I had no choice but to listen as he spilled his lineage upon the soil.
This narrative suggests that his metamorphosis occurred as a form of punishment for his “impure” behavior, reflecting Lumon’s strict stance on obedience and subservience to the corporation. Thus, the symbolism of this story reinforces the dogmatic vision imposed on the innies, using internal myths to manipulate their perception of the company and their own existence.
Interpretations of Lumon’s Mythology
1. Allegory for the Severance Process
An interesting interpretation is that the story of Kier and Dieter might be a metaphor for the severance technology itself. Kier represents Lumon’s control over individuals, while Dieter embodies the internal resistance the company seeks to suppress. This reading suggests that innies undergo constant conditioning to reject their own individual wills and conform to the corporation’s imposed directives.
2. Control and Indoctrination Programs
Kier and Dieter’s Walk could also be seen as a method of indoctrination designed to reinforce loyalty to Lumon. Consequently, the retreat and its included activities function as control rituals, where the repetition of narratives and symbolic experiences shapes the innies’ perception.
3. A Corporate Lie?
The sudden introduction of Dieter raises doubts about the story’s authenticity. Not even Irving, the most devoted of the innies, had knowledge of this legend. For this reason, this narrative might have been recently fabricated by Lumon. If that is the case, the company could be manipulating its own mythology to serve new purposes, perhaps testing new methods of employee control.
Dieter as a Pun on Diethyl Ether and Its Connection to Severance
The mythology of “Kier and Dieter’s Walk”, introduced in episode 2×04 of Severance, added a new and unexpected element: Dieter Eagan. Some fans believe Dieter may not be a real character but a pun on diethyl ether. This chemical substance was historically used as an anesthetic and industrial solvent. The theory gained traction after episode 2×08, titled Sweet Vitriol, which reveals more about Lumon’s history and its link to ether.
The Origin of the Theory and Episode 2×08
The idea that Dieter is a pun on diethyl ether emerged after episode 2×08. This episode explores Harmony Cobel’s hometown, Salt’s Neck, where Lumon owned an ether factory. The factory produced ether for industrial use and possibly for consciousness dissociation experiments. A scene in the episode shows a man inhaling diethyl ether, reinforcing its importance in the show’s mythology.
This detail led fans to speculate that “Dieter” comes from “diethyl ether”. The episode also highlights Lumon’s manipulation of memory and employee behavior. The connection between ether and the dissociative effects experienced by the innies inside Lumon strengthens this theory.
Diethyl Ether and Consciousness Dissociation
Historically, diethyl ether was an early general anesthetic. It induced unconsciousness and dissociation from reality. This makes it an interesting parallel to the Severance technology, which separates personal and professional memories. Some theories suggest that before the Severance chip, Lumon may have used ether to induce temporary dissociative states in workers.
Another fan theory proposes that ether played a key role in Lumon’s early experiments. It could have been a precursor to the Severance chip. If Lumon researched ways to control consciousness, it is plausible they started with chemical methods before moving to brain implants.
The Connection to Lumon’s Mythology
The “Walk of Kier and Dieter” might be a mythological version of this scientific process. If Dieter symbolizes diethyl ether, his dissolution into nature could represent Lumon’s shift from chemical methods to new technology. This theory supports the idea that Lumon fabricates myths to hide its real history and justify its innovations.
Another connection relates ether to memory loss. In Greek mythology, the River Lethe made those who drank from it forget their past. If Lumon used ether for memory manipulation before developing the Severance chip, its transition to a more precise method may have been mythologically represented by the journey of Kier and Dieter.
Conclusion: A Hidden Past?
The theory of Dieter as a pun on diethyl ether adds depth to Lumon’s mythology. If true, it suggests that the corporation experimented extensively before perfecting Severance technology. It also reinforces the idea that Lumon rewrites history to obscure the truth.
So, was Dieter a real person, or just a trace of Lumon’s dark past? If the company has researched consciousness dissociation for over a century, how far have their manipulations gone?
Conclusion
Kier and Dieter’s Walk reinforces Lumon’s role as an entity that constructs its own mythology to consolidate its authority over the innies. Whether as a metaphor for severance, an indoctrination tool, or an opportunistic invention, this story illustrates the power of narrative as a means of control.
With the revelation that Helena Eagan was infiltrated within the group, the credibility of Kier and Dieter’s Walk becomes even more questionable. Thus, the question remains: Was it all an elaborate social experiment? What else is Lumon willing to fabricate to keep its secrets intact?
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