It would depend on the level of hatred between us and what he had done to me in the past. Because sometimes it might be poetic justice.

 

After reading through the replies of other members in this thread, I think that everyone is missing out on some fundamental points, those being mainly

1. In the advent of there being no hope of rescue, the former servant is no longer in servitude, his master and mistress are now no more than fellow survivors of a disaster. This would only hold true if each party allowed the class divide continue.
2. As the mistress is the only female, power would more likely fall to her to choose a mate, an alpha male if you will. This could fluctuate daily.
3. There is more chance of survival with more than just two people, as long as the environment can support them. As the OP made no reference to lack or scarcity of food/water/shelter, we can only assume the island is abundant in all of these. However, if one male were to fall ill, or even the female, then it would be better to have two others to care for and nurse the sick or injured parties.

Bearing all this in mind (there is more, the list is essentially endless), it would be foolish to let the injured master die. I would rescue.

 

Hatred is an incidious affliction.

 

And her initial choice would be the husband by default. So now you can either usurp her affection or live alone. And in the event her affections do fluctuate, I would think a fight to the death in those circumstances is inevitable. That is why I was saying at the start, saving this persons life would greatly devalue the quality of your own.

AHhh after rereading the OP I see I didn't make it clear they were married.

 

Not necessarily. She may not like her husband, have been abused by him in the past, and may fancy a bit of rough instead (the servant). I believe you're still basing your thoughts on the past relationships. In this instance past relations would be forgotten.

But, if it came to a fight to the death, then the servant would not necessarily win the affection of the female if he mortally wounded or killed the husband. She may well feel sympathy for the husband and reject the servant.

 

I don't know that the wife could just say well we have been on this island a couple days now so I don't want to be with you anymore. Agreed that is something that might happen with a bit of time. But lets suppose it did, I think that would still bring us to step two as soon as possible.

And I am not saying that the lethal fight would win happily ever after for either of the men, but I don't think that would stop it from happening.

You mentioned several resources that were assumed to be abundant, but no matter how PC you are, the woman herself is a very limited resource. She is the fulfillment of many physical and psychological needs for one of the men.

 

With that possibility and the servant thinking ahead, it would be better and more beneficial for the servant if the servant let the master just die before it got to the point of a fight to the death.

 

Because they claim to be a civilized person, perhaps?

There are people out there who are so evil-minded that they'd quite happily kill to serve their own cause. Should I have power of life or death over such a person ... all I need to remember is that I don't want to be as evil as they are. I'd save them, every time.

 

I'd let him die. Three's a crowd, ya know. In such a harsh situation, I would be doing what I could to ensure my own survival and see to my own needs. If there was a female on the island with me, that would be part of my needs as well. He would not fit in to that equation. Sucks to be him.

-S-

 

I could never stand by and let someone die, I couldn't deal with that. Besides, it's always possible that the guy would be thankful that his life was saved, and would forget that whole "servant" business. Especially considering the situation, where everyone will need to work together to ensure survival.

 

You didn't think about this did you. Just firing off crap from the top if your head again. (Sarcasm)

You must be a survivalist or something, your answer came the closest to reasonable sense to me as far as an explanation for saving the guys life.

 

....I feel like an ass after all those, "I'd save him" posts. I say let the man die. Survival of the fittest, and in this situation, I've got the advantage, I'm the fit one. Better luck next time.

 

My conscience....

No matter how hot the chick was.... my conscience would never allow me to truly enjoy her if I let the prick die. Sad but true....

 

But would he forget the whole wife thing? I think that is the most important aspect.

I know it can't directly translate over but suppose it were the other way around. Suppose for you it was a wife you could save who you know would be intolerable of your presence around her husband (I will have to admit no matter how relaxed I may be with a girl, if she is my only option I would kill for her and expect anyone to do the same) then would you save her knowing she would be seeking to, and probably successfully, wrecking your life.

 

Not at all. Letting that person die would be the easy thing to do. It might not seem easy and that is what makes you the better man/woman. Even if that person is a total prick.

Now if someone was a cold blooded murder, or rapist and I was on said island with them, i'd have to get old Testiment on his ass. eye for an eye, a life for a life.

 

Really interesting subject!

Okay my first thought is... if this guy is giving me such a hard time, why the hell was I working for him in the first place?! I mean, not one of my smarter moves, obviously... but I digress.

What would I do? I would save him, without hesitation. Why? Well for one thing, letting him die, is me murdering him. I have the ability to save his life. I choose not to use it, I might as well be putting a bullet in him. To understand this better, it's like that overused Hollywood scenario; "Guy hangs off edge of building/cliff. Other guy is holding onto him. Guy hanging off building/cliff is his enemy. Does he let him go, or not?" Letting him die, is murder. Same with leaving him on the beach.

Then there's the woman. She's loyal to her husband, and rightly so. She isn't mine. She's most likely only interested in me because I'm the only man on the island! What gives me the right to kill her husband, just so I have a chance with her? Because let's face it - that's what I'd be doing. Getting rid of the competition. Lord of the Flies, anyone..?

And he may hate my guts and try to mess things up for me, but ultimately, it's my choice as to how I feel about him. My choice to work for him originally. My choice to save his life, and my choice to go around hating his guts afterwards. I'm not about to do that either... why make myself unhappy, because someone doesn't like me?

In the same light, if his wife is so blind as to see what he's doing towards me, and find it acceptable... why would I want to be with her in the first place? I'd hope I have better standards, no matter the circumstances... besides, that's why people invented masturbation!

I'd also attempt to make peace with him, and perhaps work together, as our mutual survival would, I'd hope, count for more than petty differences. If not, better a peaceful solitude, than a conscience forever ill at ease just so I could lie beside this woman.

So from both survival and moral viewpoints, it's a no-brainer. A peaceful conscience and an extra pair of hands is always going to be the better option. That's no reflection on anyone else's feelings here... these are my own feelings. As I said, I have to be able to live with myself afterwards... and that to me, is more important than who else I live with, or don't.

One a more light-hearted note though; wouldn't it be funny if you let the guy die, and wound up being rescued a few days later? The OP never said you'd be there forever...

Bye for now - Fluffy McNoo.

 

*hands you a bunch of random letters* Have at her, we don't ration them here!

Bye for now - Fluffy McNoo.

 

im pretty sure i saw that movie, wasnt billy zane the dickhead master?

 

ill help others and also ill buy some girls lol

 

You have to keep in mind that murder is an act of premeditation and if you choose not to save him after seeing him injured then that's NOT murder even though you may want to think that it is, it's not. Also how would you know you have the ability to save his life (God complex) if for one, you don't know the extent of his injuries, and two, your not a doctor... because your his servant.