The word ‘Parabellum’ comes from the the Latin adage, ‘Si vis pacem, para bellum’, which translates as, ‘If you want peace, prepare for war.’ It comes from the last two words combined, in English being ‘prepare for war’ — the briefer tagline for the movie. However, there is a world of difference between preparing for war versus going to war. The first is reasonable defence and the latter possibly reckless offence. ‘Parabellum’ is also the name of a 9×19mm firearms cartridge. Despite sounding ‘cool’ and such, it is dangerous to romanticise violence with weapons, lest one gets deeper embroiled, till it is hard to extricate oneself — as in the case of Mr Wick.
All should swiftly quit to repent for killing, before its karmic consequences creep up. As in earlier chapters, Wick the infamously efficient assassin tried to retire, but was ‘urged’ to return to his bloody vocation for vengeance and such. Breaking a cardinal rule by killing one who framed him in an underworld no-man’s land (that served as a safe zone), he was declared ‘excommunicado’, formally blacklisted with a huge bounty for his life. As he runs while defending himself, the thought arose that he should had put on a good disguise to go into hiding. But he did not renounce from further violence. Hence Chapter 3, the war of ‘the’ assassin against ‘all’ assassins.
The idea that there is some shady overarching underworld system that rules all assassins is dubious – as if there is international code of honour that the most dishonourable people (i.e. killers who kill for money) abide by. Honour among thieves is by default limited. Driven by a deluded mix of greed and hatred, if willing to make a killing to make a living, how honorable can one be? Anyone can announce a bounty, even if unofficially, upon anyone else. With all the dramatic theatrical gun fu, the harsh truth is, it is incredibly easy to die by a single determined sniper’s shot. In the real world, it is not cool being Wick, whose ‘fire’ can get snubbed out at any time.
Related Article:
Beware Of The ‘John Wick’ Syndrome!
https://thedailyenlightenment.com/2015/05/beware-of-the-john-wick-syndrome
