Neuromancer Conclusion

William Gibson’s novel, Neuromancer has a clear plot development, making it easy to follow along. First, Case was recruited by Armitage to complete a mission with his new partner Molly. Both of them were able to successfully complete their mission: Molly getting the password from 3Jane to unite Wintermute and Neuromancer, meanwhile Case was able to free himself from Neuromancer’s realm and use the password to complete the unification of Wintermute and Neuromancer. However, the reader does not know the purpose of their mission until the very end of the book, where Gibson explains the reasoning for Wintermute’s actions and that there is also another AI who happens to be the brother of Wintermute. Coincidentally, Wintermute’s brother happens to be called Neuromancer, the title of the novel, that is unusual. It makes the reader ponder as to why Gibson chose that name. Gibson goes more into depth, explaining meaning of its name, “Neuro from the nerves, the silver paths. Romancer. Necromancer. I call up the dead” (243-244). Besides that, towards the very end of the novel, the reader is left with a questioning feeling, why does Case see himself alongside Linda and Neuromancer at the end? Does this mean that Case is going to die soon? Additionally, what did become of Molly? The reader is left with an emptiness of not knowing where their heroine went, only being able to guess what might have happened to her.

Framework/Motifs of Neuromancer

“You have fifteen toxin sacs bonded to the lining of various main arteries, Case. They’re dissolving…Do the job and I can inject you with an enzyme that will dissolve the bond without opening the sacs….So you see, Case, you need us.” (45-46)

In Gibson’s novel, Neuromancer, he uses the framework of dependence in order to get his characters to conform and obey. For example, in this passage we see Armitage forcing Case to join him by creating an illusion that Case “needs” him in order to survive due to the “toxin” that was implanted in Case. However, no one knows for sure whether or not there is indeed a “toxin” that will cause Case’s arteries to dissolve or not, it is all based solely on Armitage’s words. Because of this tactic of dependence, it leaves Case with no choice but to believe what Armitage said. As we read on in the novel, we will see that this theme of dependency will occur over and over again, causing each characters to obey the orders of others simply because they have to or else they will die.
Besides that, a motif that has been occurring through these few chapters is Wintermute. On page 98 Gibson wrote, “Wintermute, Case. It’s time we talk.” This quote foreshadows that outcome of the novel that whatever happens from now on will involve Wintermute. Not only that, but on page 110 we also find out that the Zion are helping Case and Molly out, simply because Wintermute told them to. As readers, we can already make an assumption that Wintermute will play a vital role in the chapters to come and that this Wintermute will continue to involve Case and Molly until the end of the novel. Additionally, that Case and Molly will be able to find out what Wintermute really is, whether it is an AI or not.

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.

Occurence at Owl Creek Bridge

In Part I of Ambrose Bierce’s story, “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” he starts off with a third person omniscient. This allows the reader to see the opening of this story as a movie, where they are distant from the characters and have no feelings towards what is happening. The only knowledge the reader gets is that a man is being hang; therefore, making the reader feel no sign of remorse or sorrow towards the man, instead it makes the reader ponder what crime the man committed in order to be punished that way.

Following Part I is Part II of the story where Bierce switches to the past, giving background knowledge of the man who got hanged. Bierce focus on Peyton alone, giving the reader a third person limited, making us see and feel what the character feels. This enables us to grasp a deeper understanding of Peyton’s character that he is a Southern and a solider at heart, willing to aid his Southern comrades. We also learn that the reason Peyton got hanged was because he went to the Owl Creek Bridge.

Lastly in Part III, Bierce switches to back to third person omniscient so that the readers can get a clear view as to what is happening within the story. It brings the reader back to the present, letting them know what is happening right now: Peyton is being hanged and then he somehow manages to escape reaching home to his loving wife. Unfortunately, we find out that it was all his imagination. Peyton never escaped his fate of being hanged, and it makes the reader feel sympathetic towards Peyton, changing the way they feel towards him in the beginning of the story.

Poetry in Pop-Culture

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxFPc3Q_Lh4

If you look up on YouTube Dead Poets Society Part 2, you’ll find that this is a movie based on poetry. In this part of the movie, a student recites the poem written by Robert Herrick “To the Virgins to Make Much of Time.” The student recited this poem in a boring way with no emotion that it does not enhance the poem in any way; instead, it dulls it. Yet, this movie shows that poetry still plays a critical role in our society to the point where filmmakers would even make a movie out of them.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwVZtT9uDNM

In this video, the students created a video based on Emily Dickenson’s poem, “Because Death Could Not Stop for Me.” The students were very creative in their way of making the poem come to life. However, they way they portrayed it destroys the meaning of the poem. This video is more of a fun video to entertain rather than educate, but it was able to grab a hold of the audiences’ attention making them realize that poetry is not all the same - it is in the way you interpret it.

All Watched Over By Machines of Loving Grace

As we read “All Watched Over by Machines of Loving Grace” by Richard Brautian, we are introduced to a Utopian world of machines and all living beings. However, Brautian is aware that this world cannot be. He starts off the poem with “I like to think” portraying that even him, the author is not confident in his words. He even tries to reassure us that a world like this is possible using repetitive phrases such as, “I like to think” followed by whining phrases like “right now please!” and “it has to be!” begging us to believe him. The more he begs, the more we are less convinced.

Not only that, but he juxtaposes objects like “deer” and “computers” presenting an awkward illustration for us. These two objects do not belong together. Brautian is aware of it, yet he refuses to believe it trying to cover up the awkwardness with similes.

Even though Brautian knows that a world like this cannot exist - he is persistent. A world of technology would benefit us greatly, especially when “we are free of our labors.” He informs us that machines can operate for us, creating a world of relaxation, which is what we want. Also, he uses words like “harmony,” “peacefully” and “loving” to portray the utopia that his world has to offer emphasizing the benefits of technology.

Weighing both the pros and cons of the world that Brautian offers lets me conclude that we cannot rely on the “loving grace” of machines. Machines have no feelings so how can it truly be possible that machines will care for “all” with its “loving grace” when it does not even know what love is. We cannot rely on machines; instead we have to rely on ourselves, only then can we truly achieve “harmony.”

Diving into the Wreck by Adrienne Rich

“First having read the book of myths, and loaded the camera, and checked the edge of the knife-blade…” This quote taken from Adrienne Rich’s poem, “Diving into the Wreck,” informs the reader about an adventurer; trying to find what is in the “book of myths” that is lost at sea. The reader is informed that the adventurer carried a knife, book, and camera.

These three objects are very symbolic, each conveying a hidden message to the readers. The knife symbolizes protection, protecting the adventurer from danger. But the question is, will the knife be able to protect the adventurer? Meanwhile, the “book of myths” is the “map” that will lead the adventurer to its “treasures” - the main focus of the poem. Additionally, the camera will be use to take pictures of the “treasure,” showing evidence that the myth is real - not a story written for children, but a real story misinterpreted throughout the ages.

However, the most ironic part about Rich’s poem is she restates the three items mentioned earlier in the first stanza, emphasizing that the dead person found at sea is also the same person that was looking for the “treasures.” Because they too carried “a knife, a camera[,] a book of myths in which [their] names do not appear.” Meaning, whoever tries to find what is in the “book of myths” will never find it. Even though their book led them to the location, their knife will not be sufficient enough to protect them from what lies in the sea, and their camera will never able to provide evidence that this myth is real. Instead, they will all be trapped, “rot[ting]” at sea along with the many other adventurers before them. Those who found the “treasure” were somehow never able to get back to the surface. Their names were drowned away at sea, never written in history, and are lost forever. This is perhaps the reason why this poem is titled “Diving into the Wreck,” because who ever seeks the treasure will soon end up in a “wreck” never able to return.