Why Did Dean Break After 30 Years and Not Before?

[lovesrain44]

This is in reference to the 4.10 ep, Heaven and Hell, where Dean gives up the goods at the end and tells Sam the reasons why he doesn’t want to talk about hell. We find out the awful truth: that in order to stop the pain, Dean got up off the rack and became a torturer himself.

 

I realized I want to know WTF happened after 30 years that made Dean suddenly change his mind. I mean you don't go through 30 years of torture and then wake up one day and say screw this, do you? (I’m pretty sure Sam feels the same, but he’s being a Good Brother and giving Dean his space. For now, anyway.)

 

Maybe, after 30 years, maybe he hit his breaking point, maybe he got tired of Alistar coming by EVERY single day and just hit his limit.

 

When Dean said, at the end of Wishful Thinking, “…the things I did, the things I saw…” I instantly thought/figured/hoped that there was non-con between Dean and Alistar, because I’m whacked that way, and I kind of thought THAT would be the reason Dean broke. Not that he suddenly gave up one day. Or maybe Hell used Sam in some way, something that Dean thought was Sam.

 

What's most interesting to me is the fact that fanfic never considered that Dean could be broken, that he would make the choice he did as presented in canon. At least not the fanfic I’ve read. (I would be willing to be shown the error of my ways, however.)

I'd love to know what other people think!

Comments

[mellow-tears.livejournal.com]

I think it has to do with Sam. When the way Uriel said about how he knows just exactly which pressure to press,(or something in those lines.lol) was way too nasty. Like he knows something. I mean, yes, sure Dean would have to give up pretty much anyone for Sam but still..I don't know how to express, but it's like Uriel was saying "it did before."

I agree with some people above, about how Alister convinced Dean that Sam would never save him and that he would move on, etc..I think it was more on the line how Dean is foerever lost and alone, rather than "I would harm Sam if you don't give in.". Because latter meant Dean didn't have a choice but to give in without his intention, but the prior meant Dean did really breakdown, really give in.

I do think there had to be a non-con between him and Alister though. The way Alister treated Dean when he first saw him was way too sexual.

[lovesrain44.livejournal.com]

Or that Uriel knows because the demons in hell have been bragging and word got around. I agree with you, Uriel certainly didn't sound like he didn't know what he was talking about there, even if it was second hand knowledge.


I like what you said about Dean giving in - the fact that the choice was taken from him, that he believed there would be no rescue. That's a no brainer. If he sacrifices himself to save Sam, that's a choice, and he could hold onto that choice for however long. Only he never had one, it sounds like.

One poster suggested that there was non con all the time, down there in hell. That it wasn't the straw that broke the camels back. I like that idea....and you're right. The air between them was sexually charged!