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| '''Gordon Freeman''', [[Doctor of Philosophy|Ph.D.]], is the [[Fictional character|fictitious]] [[silent protagonist]] of the ''[[Half-Life]]'' series of [[first-person shooter]] [[computer game]]s. He is a [[theoretical physicist]] who is forced to defend himself and his fellow beings against hostile aliens and other enemies following an experiment gone wrong. In the process, he becomes an almost-mythical resistance hero, eventually becoming one of the leaders of an uprising against alien invaders.
| | #REDIRECT [[John-117]] |
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| ==Character==
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| Facts known about Freeman include that he is 27 years old at the time of ''Half-Life'', has no [[wikt:dependent|dependents]], and is a graduate of [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology|MIT]], having earned a [[Doctor of Philosophy|Ph.D.]] in [[theoretical physics]]. His thesis was titled ''Observation of [[EPR paradox|Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen]] [[Quantum entanglement|Entanglement]] on Supraquantum Structures by Induction Through [[Nonlinear]] [[Transuranic]] [[Crystal]] of Extremely Long [[Wavelength]] (ELW) Pulse from Mode-Locked Source Array'' (the teleportation of matter through extremely dense elements). A native of [[Seattle, Washington]], Freeman harbored an early interest in theoretical physics, such as [[quantum mechanics]] and [[theory of relativity|relativity]]. His earliest heroes were [[Albert Einstein|Einstein]], [[Stephen Hawking|Hawking]] and [[Richard Feynman|Feynman]].<ref name="Early idols">{{cite web | url = http://planethalflife.gamespy.com/View.php?view=HLGameInfo.Detail&id=5&game=4 | title= The Half-Life Story | work = Planet Half-Life | accessdate = January 13 | accessyear = 2007}}</ref> After observing a series of teleportation experiments conducted by the Institute for Experimental Physics in [[Innsbruck]], [[Austria]], applications of teleportation became Freeman's obsession.
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| [[Image:FreemanJobLetter.jpg|thumb|150px|left|Freeman's letter of acceptance to Black Mesa.]]
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| Eventually, he became disappointed with the slow pace of teleportation research in [[academia]] and began to search for a job outside the [[Higher education|education sector]]. By coincidence, Freeman's MIT mentor [[Isaac Kleiner|Dr. Isaac Kleiner]] had taken charge of a top-secret research project at a top secret, integrated research facility known as the [[Black Mesa Research Facility]] and was looking for some associates. Freeman was an obvious choice. He accepted the job offer, hoping that at least part of the immense funding would go towards civilian applications of [[astrophysics]] and [[quantum computing]].
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| At the start of the first game, Freeman is employed at, and lives in, the Black Mesa Research Facility, located somewhere in [[New Mexico]]. He is assigned to the Anomalous Materials department, located deep inside the facility, doing [[nuclear physics|nuclear]] and [[subatomic]] [[research]]. Quite humorously, while having obtained a Ph.D from the prestigious MIT, the laboratory work that the player actually does as Freeman (pressing a button and pushing a cart) does not require any intellectual expertise at all. [[Barney Calhoun]] pokes fun at this in the beginning portion of ''Half-Life 2'', when Freeman performs similar "technical" assistance (pushing a switch and attaching a fallen plug back into a socket). In ''Half-Life'', a picture of a baby could be found in Freeman's locker. Although this was officially explained as being an [[Easter egg (media)|Easter egg]] placed by the level designer, [[Marc Laidlaw]] offered the idea that it could be an infant relative of Gordon's, such as a niece or nephew.<ref name="Baby photo">{{cite web | url = http://www.halflife2.net/forums/showpost.php?p=2012223&postcount=850 | title= Thread: Info received from valve ONLY - NO questions/discussion | work = HalfLife2.net | accessdate = January 13 | accessyear = 2007}}</ref> Others suggest that it depicts a young [[Alyx Vance]] since it is similar to a picture of her found in ''[[Half-Life 2]]''. However, this was never detailed or referenced anywhere else in the series.
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| According to dialogue by Alyx in ''[[Half-Life 2: Episode One]]'', Dr. Freeman and Calhoun would compete with each other to be the first to retrieve Dr. Kleiner's keys whenever he locked them in his office in Black Mesa (apparently a fairly regular occurrence) without resorting to conventional means. This is reputedly where Freeman learned to make use of ventilation shafts to infiltrate buildings. It could also be a sly reference to the numerous ventilation shafts crawled through by Gordon and Barney in ''Half-Life'' and ''[[Half-Life: Blue Shift|Blue Shift]]'' respectively.
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| Freeman is [[spectacles|bespectacled]], of good build, wears a [[goatee]], and is quite athletic. Although seeming to be an expert with weapons and explosives, Freeman had actually not handled any weapons until some cursory training at the Black Mesa Research Facility's Hazard Course (aside from the [[butane]]-powered tennis ball cannon he constructed at age 6). What separates Gordon Freeman from other games' heroes is that he is a scientist – a rather unlikely kind of hero when compared to more traditional video-game characters such as [[Duke Nukem (character)|Duke Nukem]], or soldier types in many other games, such as [[Doomguy]] or [[Master Chief (Halo)|Master Chief]].
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| According to Valve's documentary book on the game, ''Half-Life 2: Raising the Bar'', the name Gordon Freeman is an homage to [[Freeman Dyson]].
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| ==Appearances and role==
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| {{spoiler}}
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| ===''Half-Life''===
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| [[Image:Half-life-cover.jpg|thumb|right|Art of Freeman from the original ''[[Half-Life]]''.]]
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| <!--NOTE: The date Freeman is contacted before the Black Mesa Incident is known simply as "May 5, 200-" in Half-Life's game manual-->
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| On May 16, 200- [''sic''], Freeman and his team perform an experiment that goes horribly wrong (possibly intentionally, due to outside manipulation). As a result, the [[spacetime|space-time continuum]] is ruptured, allowing [[extraterrestrial life|alien]] lifeforms to enter the Black Mesa facility. They immediately begin killing any humans they can find. Freeman finds himself hunted by two groups: the invading aliens and the [[Hazardous Environment Combat Unit]], a [[military]] cleanup team that has been sent to contain the situation, silencing aliens and surviving personnel alike. Against all odds, the untrained theoretical physicist somehow manages to survive the chaos, impressing the few surviving scientists and security guards with his heroic acts while quickly becoming the HECU's top priority target.
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| After numerous challenges, and after eliminating countless aliens and soldiers, Freeman is eventually transported by a few surviving Lambda Team scientists to the alien home world of [[Xen (Half-Life)|Xen]], where he manages to eliminate the alien "leader," [[Nihilanth]]. Upon recovering from his final encounter, Freeman is finally confronted by the mysterious [[G-Man (Half-Life)|G-Man]], who has been observing Freeman from a distance throughout the entire game and perhaps even manipulating his fate. The G-Man shows Freeman several locations throughout Earth and Xen, before finally offering Freeman a choice: either agree to work for the G-Man and his mysterious "employers," or be left to die on Xen without any weapons and surrounded by hostile lifeforms. ''Half-Life 2'' assumes that Gordon chooses to accept G-Man's offer of employment.
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| ===''Half-Life 2''===
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| [[Image:Stained_glass_Gordon_AYool.jpg|thumb|left|A stained glass image from an early demonstration of ''Half-Life 2''. This scene may be found during a Video Stress Test in ''[[Counter-Strike: Source]]'', and is likely an [[Easter egg (media)|Easter egg]] rather than a part of the ''Half-Life'' game world.]]
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| ''[[Half-Life 2]]'' begins with the G-Man speaking to Gordon. Like the ending of the original game, the scene is somewhat inexplicable and [[psychedelic]], with the G-Man's face in extreme close-up fading in and out of visibility over backgrounds representing scenes from the original ''Half-Life'' as well as scenes he will visit in the course of ''Half-Life 2''. The G-Man delivers a typically cryptic speech, commenting that "the right man in the wrong place can make all the difference in the world." and concludes by telling Freeman to "wake up, and smell the ashes". According to the ''[[Half-Life 2: Episode One]]'' [http://ep1.half-life2.com/story.php story page], the G-Man kept Freeman "in [[Stasis (fiction)|stasis]] far from Earth, thought, and time itself" for "nearly two decades." It is implied by Eli Vance that Freeman didn't physically change during his stasis,<ref name="Lack of aging HL2">'''Eli Vance''': "Gordon Freeman! Let me get a look at you man! My god man, you haven't changed one iota. How do you do it?" (''Half-Life 2'', Chapter V: Black Mesa East)</ref> a fact that was to be more implicit, as seen in the game's beta version.<ref name="Lack of aging HL2 beta">[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vm8-7q9zxHQ&mode=user&search= Video of the ''Half-Life 2'' beta] on YouTube, by DraX360.</ref> Freeman then wakes up on a train with two citizens being "relocated" to City 17. Freeman quickly learns that Earth has been conquered and occupied by the trans-dimensional [[Combine (Half-Life 2)|Combine]] empire. He soon meets up with [[Barney Calhoun]] and [[Alyx Vance]], and joins the resistance against the Combine.
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| During the course of the second game, Freeman battles the forces of the Combine in order to free humanity from its grasp. Already famous for his role in the Black Mesa Incident, Gordon quickly develops a legendary reputation among Earth's surviving human populace, who begin to look up to him and refer to him by such messianic titles as "The One Free Man." After slaying scores of Combine soldiers and leading an assault against the Combine stronghold of [[Nova Prospekt]], Gordon eventually sparks a full-scale rebellion against the Combine domination, in which he becomes a combatant. Gordon infiltrates one of the Combine's foothold on Earth, the City 17 Citadel, and destroys it by detonating its Dark Energy Reactor. Although caught in the reactor's explosion along with Alyx Vance, Gordon is rescued by the G-Man, who tells Freeman that he "is impressed with his work and has received several tempting offers for his 'services'." The G-Man finally informs Freeman that, rather than offering him "the illusion of free choice," the G-Man has taken the liberty of choosing for him, and deposits Freeman back in stasis until he is needed once again. Thus, ''Half-Life 2'' "concludes" just as cryptically as its predecessor did, with perhaps even more questions unanswered.
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| ====''Half-Life 2: Episode One''====
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| ''[[Half-Life 2: Episode One]]'' rejoins Freeman and [[Alyx Vance]] as they embark on the flight from City 17, doomed by the destruction of the Citadel's dark fusion reactor at the end of ''Half-Life 2''. At the beginning of the game, the G-Man appears once more to Gordon, but this time, he is interrupted by the appearance of a group of chanting, purple-glowing [[vortigaunt]]s, who take Gordon away while blocking the G-Man's path. The G-Man appears most displeased by this development, and responds by scowling and darkly stating "We'll see... about ''that!''"
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| Gordon regains consciousness under a pile of rubble and is found by Alyx and [[Dog (Half-Life 2)|Dog]]. It is later revealed that the only way to flee the Citadel's explosion, which would level much of City 17, is to contain the Citadel's core, stalling the structure's destruction enough for an escape. Gordon and Alyx succeed in doing so, but learn that the local Combine forces are attempting to send a distress message for offworld assistance. In order to generate enough energy to send the message, the local Combine are willing to overload the Citadel's reactor, going so far as to completely destroy the Citadel if necessary. The Combine consider this a positive, as the subsequent explosion would destroy all of City 17 and much of the surrounding countryside, which has been all but lost to human Resistance forces. With a copy of the distress message, Gordon and Alyx escape the Citadel and meet up with Barney and other survivors.
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| The pair escape City 17 via an evacuation train as the Citadel goes critical. Evidently, the Combine message is successfully transmitted while several Combine pods fly away from the Citadel at great speed. The train carrying Freeman and Alyx is still close by and is hit by a shockwave as the Citadel is seemingly destroyed. Their subsequent fate will be revealed in ''Episode Two''.
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| ==Other appearances in ''Half-Life'' series==
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| [[Image:GORDON FREEMAN.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Freeman can briefly be seen, in his HEV suit, carried away by [[Hazardous Environment Combat Unit|HECU]] soldiers in ''[[Half-Life: Blue Shift]]''.]]
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| Two expansions for ''Half-Life'' all more or less take place during the same time as ''Half-Life'' itself, and as such Gordon is seen at some points of the games.
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| * In ''[[Half-Life: Opposing Force]]'', [[Adrian Shephard]] only encounters Gordon once when he witnesses Gordon teleport to [[Xen (Half-Life)|Xen]] in the Lambda Complex. Attempts to follow him through the same portal will result in a "[[temporal paradox]]" which sends Shephard falling through Xen's void and ends the game.
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| * Gordon is seen three times by [[Barney Calhoun]] during the course of ''[[Half-Life: Blue Shift]]''. Barney first sees Gordon passing by in a tram at the beginning of the game, later heading towards the HEV storage area through a surveillance camera, and lastly being dragged to a trash compactor by a pair of [[Hazardous Environment Combat Unit|HECU]] marines.
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| In these appearances, Gordon maintains his silence, even though he is not the protagonist.
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| {{endspoiler}}
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