Particle Man Explained.
By Tom Monroe
The characters in the Song: Particle Man are archetypes of the four basic motivations for human behavior.
Particle Man: Motivated by the need for acceptance. He will act in the manner that will gain him the most acceptance from other people. This explains the line:
When he’s underwater does he get wet,
or does the water get him instead?
Water represents a crowd of people. Particle man will always try to join a group to gain acceptance (get wet). But rather than successfully becoming part of the group, the group merely becomes a group + particle man. (does the water get him instead?).
What’s he like? It’s not important,
Its not important what he is like, because he is only acting as he thinks others expect him to.
Is he a dot, is he a speck?”
Dot and speck are two words that describe the same thing. Both are describing something small and insignificant. Regards of what particle man is doing, his relentless need for acceptance taints his actions so that his true character (chameleon) is exposed as small and worthless.
Person Man: Motivated by greed. He is motivated by his desire for worldly possessions. (PERSONal possessions)
Lives his life in a garbage can
His continuous need for possessions causes him to live where he can amass the largest amount of personal possessions - “a garbage can”.
Is he depressed, or is he a mess,
does he feel totally worthless?
Just like a shopaholic who goes through the cycle of buying, then depression and guilt (worthlessness), then back to buying material goods, Person Man is a mess because he amasses more material possessions, only to find that it leaves him feeling more empty, so he tries to amass more material possessions. He is a degraded man.
hit on the head with a frying pan
The frying pan represents personal possessions. The very thing he seeks turns on him, and causes him pain.
Triangle Man: Motivated by the need to control others.
The triangle represents a pyramid, where he is at the top, and everybody else is under his control.
The interesting part of the song is to watch Triangle Man’s interaction with other men:
Particle Man: Wants acceptance from Triangle Man
Triangle Man: Wants to control Particle Man
When Particle Man and Triangle Man meet, Triangle Man will want Particle Man to do what as he wishes. “Triangle Man hates Particle Man” simply means that Triangle Man has utter disrespect for Particle Man’s desires, and wants to override them. When they interact, Particle Man’s desire for acceptance will compel him to submit to Triangle Man’s will, thereby loosing the fight.
Second Interaction: Particle Man vs. Person Man.
Person Man: Wants material wealth
Triangle Man: Wants to control Person Man
Again, Triangle Man wants to control person man. He has total disrespect for person man’s wants (hates him). When they interact, Triangle man is easily able to manipulate Person man with his greed. He will offer him a possession, and easily take control of him. Just like the old myth about the genie who grants 3 wishes, and each wish winds up becoming a curse.
Triangle wins.
Universe Man:
Motivated by altruism
Universe man, universe man;
size of the entire universe man.
Universe Man has pure motivations. He desires the best for his fellow men. His selflessness elevates him way beyond his fellow men ("He that is greatest in the kingdom of heaven must become the least of all. If any would become great among you, let him become the servant of all," {Mark 9:35})
Usually kind to smaller men
Universe Man has no conflict with any the other characters. He is at peace with himself and the universe. He has found the path to true happiness.
He's got a watch with a minute hand, Millennium hand and an eon hand. When they meet it's a happy land.Universe Man.
He has eternal life (he has a watch that marks the eons), in which he will happy in a happy place.