Neuromancer Part I

In part one of “Neuromancer,” by William Gibson he reveals two realms to us using his protagonist, Case. We find out that Gibson has the character go to the Cheap Hotel where he sleep in coffins instead of bed. This creates a sense of abnormality, because we do not usually associate coffin with bed except if you are a vampire. Yet, Case is not a vampire and having him sleep in the coffin creates this new strange world that we know is out of the ordinary.

Case also visits places like Chatsubo almost on a daily basis, getting information about people and having a drink there. Chatsubo seems like a popular bar filled with whores or call girls and smoke, which is something we, as the readers are familiar with. But we also find out that places like the arcade, is out of the ordinary. The reason is, because it is filled blue smoke, holograms and very techno like. It contains lots of video games where people come play, yet the place itself seems vague and unclear as if we do not have a definite idea of what it looks like.

However, the way Gibson describes Julius Dean’s office focuses more on the furniture. Gibson describes the lamp, the coffee table, and bookcases in detail, creating a sense of familiarity that Case is not in the Matrix, but in reality.

Yet the places Gibson describes are always dark, gloomy, smoking, fill with holograms, and involving a cigarette. These places that Gibson describes as resembles that of the ghetto area, where theft, violence, and gang related activity are high. Gibson illustrates these places as if it is not a safe area to be; instead everyone is always on the lookout and running from someone or a group of people.

The only way we know for sure that Case is in the real world is through hallucination. If Case hallucinates that means he is in the Matrix, which is a fast, moving cyberspace. If Case does not hallucinate then it means he is in reality. This makes it difficult to distinguish between what is considered real and the matrix, because both world seems to resembles each other only that each differs in technological advances.