Neuromancer Conclusion

The conclusion to Gibson’s Neuromancer answered questions that had remained unknown throughout most of the text, but at the same created new ambiguity.

Towards the end of the novel we meet the mysterious AI which Case had longed to know more about throughout the text. The AI, which had not appeared prior in the text, presents himself for the first time when he tricked Case into jacking in into a dark place, a beach with no end; a beach where Neuromancer, the newly revealed AI, had put Linda Lee. Neuromancer gave himself the image of a young boy, and described himself to be the counterpart of Wintermute. The reader could sense the end of the novel because when Case saw Linda Lee on the beach he was not filled with emotions, instead he commented that he would not fall for Neuromancer’s trick, that the scene could not be real. By doing so, Case was able to override Neuromancer’s last attempt to over power Case.

Molly and Case were able to fulfill their mission and retrieve the information necessary from 3Jane. The toxin sacs implanted within Case became loose and, with a future blood change performed by the Zionites, would no longer present a problem. Ironically, Riviera himself became paralyzed and defeated due to poison.

In the final few pages ambiguities that remain deal with Molly and the matrix. When Case walked into his hotel room in the final scene Molly had left a note and was gone. After that no more was ever said by Molly and “He never saw Molly again,” which creates a mystery of what happened to her and where she went(261). Also, when Case is present in the room, he sees “The Finn’s face on the room’s enormous Cray wall screen” (259). The image mentions that he is no longer Wintermute, but the matrix, and he mentions that he has found others of his kind. This creates a question of what will happen in the future within the matrix and who exits within it. Yet, Case decides to show no further interest in the matrix.

In the end, Case begins another life, but one night he visualizes something out of the normal. The images of Riviera, Linda Lee, and himself, are presented to him as he walks; no explanation given, then the story ends.

Neuromancer Framework

Periodically throughout the text, romance between Molly and Case arises. The romance is not always direct, sometimes it is simply just phrases that either Case comments regarding Molly, or Molly comments regarding Case, that show that there is a physical attraction between the two. For example, the two sleep on the same bed. The beginning portion of part two describes a situation in which both Molly in Case were sleeping in the same bed. “Opening his eyes, he saw Molly, naked and just out of reach across an expanse of very new pink temperfoam” (44). Case appears to respect Molly and slowly he grows fond of her, whether it may be in a romantic or business matter. “He knew the way she’d move against him, earlier, when she woke, their mutual grunt of unity when he’d entered her, and that she liked her coffee black...There were dark circles under her eyes, but even with the cast on, it was like watching a dance. No wasted motion” (55, 82). He grows to learn her wants and is pleased by her appearance.

Along with romance goes the idea of physical attraction, or sexuality. Molly is regarded as a fit, attractive, intelligent woman that could should not be underestimated. She is capable of defending herself well against who ever it may be, and men are no exception. When Terzibashjian says, “In Turkey, women are still women. This one...,” Finn quickly quiets him and responds with, “She’d have you wearing your balls for a bow tie if you looked at her cross-eyed,” which describes Molly.

Neuromancer

William Gibson’s, Neuromancer, begins at the scene of a bar where we first meet the main character, Case. In Gibson’s first line of book the book he immediately jumps into describing the scene by making comparisons to technology. He describes the sky above to the image that somebody would see if they were looking at a dysfunctional television screen. One could image this to be static like, gloomy, dark, gray, and sort of fearful. The story then is broken into different sections, and it jumps from present, to past, to simply sections in which background information is given.

As more background information is given regarding the story, we discover that Case is located in a city in Japan, which he refers to Night City. The city is described as a dark place full of technology, cyber networks, illegal transactions regarding technology, and a black market. In the story Case makes a lot of references to the “Matrix.” By doing so, the impression that is given, regarding Night City, is that Night City is a place different from reality, where people can be created and implanted with different things that are not normal to the real word. For example, when Case visits a man by the name of Julius, he mentions that Julius is was one hundred and thirty five years old, something that is not common.

Throughout the first part of the story Case also continuously mentions that the streets and his surroundings are filled with neon lights. Those neon lights tie with technology . The world in which case is living in is far from what is typically considered normal. It is as if though Case is escaping from the real world, from reality, from the possible. This ties into cyberspace because cyberspace is also a manner in which people can be sucked into technology and separate themselves from the real world.

Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge

Ambrose Bierce’s, "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge," short story is broken up into three distinguishable parts. The parts are clearly labeled I, II, and III, yet they do no occur in chronological order. The appropriate chronological order of the story would be II, I, and III. The story begins in a third person point of view. In part I of the story only factual information that is relevant to the story is given, such as what the surrounding environment looks like, and describes the people that are present in the scene. None of the characters’ inner thoughts are explained. Also, in the first portion no explanation is given as to why a man is being executed, which leads the reader to question why and continue reading.
In the second portion of the story background information is given on the man being executed. This part of the story is told from a limited third person point of view. Only details and thoughts regarding the man being executed are used. Dialogue is also used in part two of the story which allows for a more personal touch and allows the reader to have a better understanding of the character. In part II we discover the reasoning behind Peyton Farquhar’s execution at Owl Creek Bridge.
In the part III of the story, there is an even more personal touch. It is told through Farquhar’s point of view and therefore we can see what is going on through his head, how he is feeling, and get to learn even more about him through his own perspective. Farquhar describes how he is able to escape and finally reach his home after all he went through. Then all of a sudden the story ends, and he is dead. A twist to the story was possible due to the point of view in which it was told. Farquhar never successfully escaped, a tricky scene for readers. The whole time he was simply imagining the event in his mind and how it would have happened, all while he was being hung.

Poetry in Pop Culture

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_w3HVZrFc_g&feature=related
　
"Invictus" by William Ernest Henley

In an episode of One Tree Hill, the poem “Invictus” by William Ernest Henley is entirely recited. The poem is being read not by the characters themselves, but instead by an outside voice. Meanwhile, within the episode the camera is switching from one character’s life to another; with lively music playing in the background. The manner in which the poem is read makes the words sound inspirational and motivational; enhancing the lines in a positive manner.
　
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYY7J_ce64Y

"Resume" by Dorothy Parker

In the movie Girl Interrupted, the character Lisa, played by actress Angelina Jolie, recites Dorothy Parker’s poem “Resume.” The way Lisa recites the poem is very fast paced and slightly careless, due to this I feel that some of the meaning within the poem is lost. The poem suggests the theme of suicide, yet when it is being said in the movie cheerful music is being played in the background. The poem is not being enhanced.

"All Watched over by Machines of Loving Grace"

Richard Brautigan begins his poem with thoughts that appear to be quite ironic. Within his wishes he incorporates scenarios that most people would not regard as normal. The poem suggests that an ideal world would consist of a place where technology and nature could go hand and hand. For example, in lines 13 and 14 of the second stanza he writes,

“where deer stroll peacefully
past computers. ”

But on the contrary, those lines themselves seem as if they were a form of sarcasm.
A world where computers, advanced technology, beautiful nature, and forests can all live side by side seems too extreme and impossible. It is as if the poet is using reverse psychology with the reader to see if the reader will question the scenarios of nature and technology. Advancements in technology are not always beneficial to the environment, especially when hazardous, non decomposable materials are used. Since the world that Brautigan describes in his poem is highly unlikely, it gives off that impression that an anti-technology message is given in the poem.

But perhaps Brautigan is aware that technology is becoming a big part of society, and its better that it becomes nature’s friend rather than over powering nature. Within the poem there are lines in the third stanza that discuss the option of technology taking labor of the hands of people, which then gives people more time to enjoy nature. This gives the illusion that being pro-technology is good because it makes lives easier and leaves more time to enjoy leisure activities.

The world described in the poem seems soothing, but at the same time too good to be true. Today’s society seems to be controlled by technology, whether it be with cell phones, computers, or ipods. It would be nice if one day people could push their technological devices to the side and enjoy the free things found all around.

Adrienne Rich - "Diving into the Wreck"

List of images:

Body-armor of black rubber
Awkward mask
Flippers
Camera
Knife
Book of myths
Ladder
Wreck
Mermaid
Merman
Drowned face sleeps with open eyes
Water-eaten log

Adrienne Rich’s poem, “Diving into the Wreck,” is filled magnificent imagery from beginning to end. She commences her poem by describing how she prepares herself in order to dive down into the deep, blue sea. Her choice of words such as “body-armor of black rubber,” “awkward mask,” and “flippers,” make it easy for the reader to visualize her words. It is as if though I was the one plunging into the water and fulfilling all the tasks she describes within her poem.

Rich begins her poem with the image of a book of myths, she then continues to discuss what it is like to experience the ocean first hand, and finally ends her poem by stating that the book of myths lacks information. My interpretation of the book of myths verses plunging into the water first-hand is that in order to capture all the characteristics that something encloses, it is essential for someone to experience it on a personal level. By simply reading a book, or taking in the words of others, it is not the same as personally living that experience. By diving into the water for herself, Rich could compare reality to the words she had previously read. In doing so, she discovered that what she had learned previously was missing some facts.

Aside from her poem being wonderfully written, where words turn into images, I feel that Rich’s poem has more to say than simply describing a wreck. Not taking someone’s word, and experiencing something for ones own self goes for many things. In her poem, Rich decides to push the book of myths out of her way and instead put on her own flippers. There are some things in life that a person just has to live and experience for himself. Only then may a person be the judge.