The end of Neuromancer.

As Neuromancer comes to an end, loose ties are finally tied up and we start to make sense of the intricate and at times, confusing, plot. At the end of the novel, Riviera attempts to kill Case but is luckily protected by Lady 3Jane's bodyguard (Hideo) and although he runs away, Molly lets on that she has poisoned him and he is fated to die soon anyway. Case and Molly finally conclude their mission by retrieving the key from Lady 3Jane. Finally Wintermute unites with his other A.I., Neuromancer. Once the two unite, Case is finally cleared of the poison sacs placed within him and him and Molly are paid for their work they began for Armitage.

A surprising part of the ending is how Molly ends up leaving Case. After all they've been through their bond appears to be incredibly strong yet she leaves with little remorse for them going their separate paths. The note she leaves him leaves us with some more insight through the way she once again says "It's the way I'm wired I guess" (257). The fact that she refers to herself as being "wired" reinforces the fact that she is in fact slightly more technological than she is human. This line between technology and humanity shows that possibly her mechanical traits override her human ones at times and she has some kind of disconnect from these human emotions which make us attached to others.

Although there are many clear endings to the novel, there are also things left uncertain. The way that some endings are so clear-cut and some are entirely uncertain ties in with the theme of technology and humanity and the mechanical versus the natural. These two sides of one ending encompasses how both work in unison to produce an end to a means.

Frameworks

“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)

This scene in which Armitage is explaining Case's apparent situation to him, in order to get him to agree to his plan, is particularly interesting in regard to framework. The mixing of technology and bodily functions is something scene intertwined throughout the story thus far. This shows how humans may have lost some of their humanity in an effort to alter or improve their natural functions. This also calls into question whether we are willing to give up some of what makes us human in the name of science and technology. This scene in particular shows the negative sides to these unnatural scientific advancements, that allow us to poison someone is such discrete, unresolvable manners.

Another interesting framework that continues to appear throughout the story is that of romance and the concept of love vs. lust, or platonic vs. romantic. This framework mainly occurs between the relationships of Case and Molly and the memory of Linda Lee. Case seems to have a blatantly sexual relationship with Molly based solely off of lust, yet events cause us to question whether there is more to this relationship beneath the surface. Little symbols trigger this reevaluation of the relationship between Case and Molly, as they continue on their mission together. The fact that they work together in unison also adds another factor to this relationship and whether their connection may also be through shared interest or similarities. They both appear to have minds that work more so off technology or processes, rather than simple emotion.

Neuromancer: Setting/Scene Changes

In Neuromancer, William Gibson introduces the setting in a bar named Chatsubo or 'Chat' for short. This place is not described in much detail, but it is hinted at that it is some sort of underground, almost unethical, dirty area due to the drunks and "whores" that inhabit it. The story quickly moves on to its next setting, "Night City" which lies in Chiba, Japan. This city of "techno-criminal subcultures" and black markets is described as shadowy with a "television sky." This refers back to the opening line of the story which introduces the sky above the port as "the color of television, tuned to a dead channel." These descriptions alluding to death and darkness are common in the beginning of the story as Gibson goes on to describe where Case sleeps as a "coffin" whether this is literal meant in a literal or figurative sense, is up to interpretation.

The scene again changes to a tea shop called "Jarre de Thé." This setting is described simply as having "walled mirrors, each panel framed in red neon" which later in the scene he calls "a cage of red neon," adding a negative connotation to the scenery. Gibson goes on to briefly mention other locations in the story such as stores and attractions along the road, most in little detail.

As the setting jumps once again to the offices of Julius Deane, the descriptions start to become more and more detailed and elaborate. The scene contains descriptions of almost everything in the room, one piece of furniture to the next, from the dust on the bookcases to the "dark green glass" of the "ancient brass lamp". These descriptions not only become more lengthy, but also more straight-forward. They seem to be a simple photographic depiction of the office environment.

In general, the illustrations of cyberspace in the story appear to be far more dark and vague than those of "reality" so to speak. These descriptions seem to be given as in a haze of smoke, darkness, dirt, bright flashes and extreme haste. They provide a stronger sense that this is an entirely different atmosphere, and must be interpreted accordingly.

"An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge"

The story begins as a fairly straight-forward description of the scene that is taking place, with little to no background information or character details. The author starts the story like this in order to catch the reader's attention and keep them reading, without offending them or turning them off to the plot. He only later describes that the man being hanged is a white former slave owner and southern movement supporter. This might make reader's less interested in his emotions or point of view, and force them to have less empathy or understanding for his position.

Another change in the story occurs in point of view. The beginning, in Part I is in all told through 3rd person objective, while in the last part of the story it begins to lean more towards 3rd person limited. This transition aids in really placing the reader in the story. The transition to 3rd person limited gives a deeper insight into the delusional and blurred visions and thoughts of Peyton Farquhar as he falls to his death.

Other changes that occur in the story are in chronology. There are many flashbacks in reference to the main character's past and family. There is also a very important flashback to Farquhar's run-in with the federal soldier, who tricks him into believing otherwise. This important scene reveals the reason for his hanging, in the fact that he nonchalantly talked to this undercover agent about burning down the bridge at Owl Creek.

Poetry & Pop Culture

One example of poetry in popular culture is in the movie "10 Things I Hate About You" where there are numerous references to Shakespeare and countless of his works (the play itself being loosely based on one of his plays, "Taming of the Shrew"). In one particular moment, a main character quotes Shakespeare's Sonnet LVI saying, "Sweet love, renew thy force." This along with many other direct Shakespearean quotes can be found strewn throughout the movie. I believe this enhances the movie by providing some depth to an otherwise shallow "chick-flick" and provoking more thought than would have occurred otherwise. Having a knowledge of poetry and especially Shakespearean poetry, helps in understanding the movie's true meaning and purpose.

A second example of poetry in popular culture occurs in the movie "The Notebook." In one scene, a main character, Noah, is reading the poem "So Long" by Walt Whitman. This poem is significant in the movie in many regards, and having a knowledge of the poem as well as a comprehension of it, adds significant meaning to the movie. If one is familiar with poetry, while watching this movie they will also pick up on other references to Walt Whitman's poems in additional scenes, including the name of one of his books being written upon a school chalkboard.

"All Watched Over By Machines of Loving Grace"

Richard Brautigan’s poem “All Watched Over By Machines of Loving Grace,” is a clear argument for the invasiveness of technology on the natural environment. Brautigan uses clever, well-positioned sarcasm to evoke strong feelings of anti-technology. His statements are often trying to convey a message contrary to what they actually say, as in where he describes humans and computers existing in “mutually programming harmony.” In this statement he is showing there is actually no happy co-existing state, because in existing together, the line between the two will eventually begin to blur. You can realize the blurring of this line as Brautigan begins to describe environmental subjects as “cybernetic.”

Brautigan uses the blurring between technology and nature in order to represent the inevitable loss of free thought, once technology begins to overpower the natural environment. By saying “I like to think (and the sooner the better!)” Brautigan implies that thinking must be done immediately because we may not have this ability in the future. This insertion of exclamatory phrases such as this implies urgency in our thoughts and creates a feeling of inevitability that this is soon to become a distant memory instead of an instinct.

Although there is plenty of evidence that this poem is anti-technology, there is also plenty of proof that it may also imply arguments that are pro-technology. In the first stanza, for instance, he states that “I like to think” rather than “I think” which provides a positive connotation that he wants to believe this, and enjoys doing so. Furthermore, Brautigan characterizes the machines as “loving” as in the final line of the poem as well as in the title. This characterization shows his affection for the machines instead of a dislike for them.

In my opinion, I believe Brautigan’s poem is somewhat a mixture of the two extremes. I think he wants to see the world achieve a sort of agreement between nature and technology. To me, the poem evokes feelings that the two can live in harmony rather than one existing solely without the other. The way he describes the meadow, the forest, and ecology as “cybernetic” suggests this due to the definition of the word which is in short, a science dealing with both machines and living things. From this I can qualify that the poem sees possibility and potential benefits from the co-existence of technology and nature.

"Diving into the Wreck"

List of images:
book
camera
knife
black rubber
flippers
"awkward mask"
sun
ladder
blue light
insect
ocean
fans
reefs
wreck
"ribs of disaster"
mermaid & merman
open eyes
instruments

Analysis:

The images of the camera and the book of myths in Rich's poem "Diving into the Wreck," offer an insight into the poem's meaning by their similar connotations. Both the camera and the book offer ways of capturing history. In the last stanza, Rich explains how although we are not always the ones having our stories retold in books or our moments captured through film, we are all part of history, "We are, I am, you are." By diving into the ocean to seek the wreck, Rich not only becomes one with the tragedy of the wreck, but also with it’s history. The deeper he dives, the darker the water becomes and the more entwined him and the myths become. Soon he is lost in what is real and what is myth and becomes distracted from his original purpose to “discover the wreck.” He becomes the stories and the disaster, saying “we are the half-destroyed instruments that once held to a course.” This portrays how Rich has become so enthralled in the myths of the sea that he has strayed from his initial itinerary.

Although this all aids in the interpretation of the poem, the strongest imagery is overwhelmingly the color change of the water from blue to bluer, green and eventually to black. The sharp color changes are incredibly striking and cause you to question the meaning behind this imagery. The color blue has a tendency to represent serenity, which is the initial stage of Rich entering the ocean, until it turns a shade of green. The change to green primarily seems to serve as a flag for the change that will shortly occur: the sudden onset of blackness. The black imagery portrays a strong sense of fear and danger. The fear of the blackness and the unknown are overwhelming. The immense amount of fear in the poem will be faced with either “cowardice or courage” and in the end only one will overcome it to return to the scene of the wreck “carrying a knife, a camera a book of myths in which our names do appear.”