In the following pages I will discuss the role of Death in Don DeLillo’s “White Noise” and I will show that the protagonist, Jack Gladney, is not only obsessed with death, but that fear and obsession are the main driving forces in his life. Further it is the aim of this paper to show that Jack Gladney goes through a change, which results in him being able to cope with his fear and that DeLillo holds technology responsible for Jack’s obsessive fear. In order to support the thesis of this paper I will analyze the role that death plays in Jack’s life in regard to his family, his job, consumption and technology. To support the thesis of Jack going through a change I will discuss Jack’s relationship to death before and after the exposure to the chemical spillage and, most important, before and after Jack’s being “nearer to death”, when attempting to kill Willie Mink. Concluding, I will look at the novel’s link between death and technology. Jack Gladney lives with his wife Babette and their children from previous marriages in a house at the end of a quiet street in the quiet town of Blacksmith. He is head of the department of Hilter Studies at the College-on-the-Hill. Jack has specialized on Hitler and built a whole department around this single figure of history. In academic circles he is widely known as the leading expert on Hitler and his articles are printed in the appropriate journals. But Jack neither reads nor speaks the German language, a fact he desperately tries to keep a secret. He hides behind his dark glasses and academic robe. [...]
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Jack Gladney's Obsession with Death
- Death, Family, and Job
- Death and Consumption
- Death and Technology
- The Change in Jack Gladney
- The Toxic Spillage
- Confronting Death
- Becoming a Killer
- Death and Technology
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper aims to analyze the role of death in Don DeLillo's "White Noise," focusing on protagonist Jack Gladney's obsession with mortality and his subsequent transformation. It explores how fear and obsession drive Gladney's actions and examines DeLillo's portrayal of technology's influence on this fear.
- Jack Gladney's obsession with death and its manifestations.
- The relationship between death, consumption, and technology in the novel.
- Gladney's psychological transformation and his confrontation with mortality.
- DeLillo's critique of societal anxieties surrounding death and technology.
- The exploration of victimhood and the potential for transformation through violence.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
Introduction: This introduction lays out the paper's central argument: that Jack Gladney's life is driven by an obsession with death, and that this obsession undergoes a significant change following his exposure to the toxic chemical spill. The paper will analyze Gladney's relationship with death in the context of his family, work, consumption habits, and technology, ultimately arguing that technology plays a crucial role in shaping his fear.
Jack Gladney's Obsession with Death: This section delves into the multifaceted nature of Gladney's death obsession. It examines how his professional life as a Hitler Studies professor is intrinsically linked to his fear of death; Hitler represents a perverse form of protection, a figure "larger than death" against which Gladney's own mortality feels insignificant. The chapter also explores Gladney's compulsive consumption habits as a coping mechanism for his anxieties, showing how shopping provides a temporary sense of security and "fullness of being" that his fear otherwise prevents him from achieving. The frequent mentions of obituaries illustrate how Gladney constantly calculates his own impending mortality.
The Change in Jack Gladney: This section charts Gladney's transformation after the toxic spill. The near-death experience brought about by the exposure to Nyodene Derivative forces Gladney to confront his mortality directly. The abstract fear of death is replaced by the concrete knowledge of his own impending demise. This leads to a shift in his behavior, reflected in his attempts to "tidy up" his life and prepare for death. The influence of his colleague, Murray Jay Siskind, suggests a further transformation – a potential shift from "dier" to "killer," an extreme response to the overwhelming fear of death.
Death and Technology: While not explicitly detailed in the provided text, this section would likely analyze DeLillo's depiction of technology's role in fostering and exacerbating Gladney's anxieties. This could include the pervasive influence of television, the media's representation of disaster, and the role of technological advancements in creating new forms of death and fear (as suggested by the chemical spill).
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Death, obsession, fear, technology, consumption, transformation, Don DeLillo, White Noise, Hitler, anxiety, mortality, victimhood, violence.
Don DeLillo's "White Noise": A Comprehensive FAQ
What is this document?
This document provides a structured overview of a scholarly analysis of Don DeLillo's novel, "White Noise." It includes a table of contents, objectives and key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords, all designed for academic use in analyzing the novel's themes.
What are the main themes explored in the analysis of "White Noise"?
The analysis centers on protagonist Jack Gladney's obsession with death and its evolution throughout the novel. It explores the intricate relationship between death, consumption, and technology, examining how these factors shape Gladney's actions and psychological transformation. The analysis also delves into DeLillo's critique of societal anxieties surrounding death and technology, and explores the concepts of victimhood and the potential for transformation through violence.
What is the focus of the analysis on Jack Gladney?
The analysis focuses on Jack Gladney's multifaceted obsession with death. It examines how this obsession manifests in his professional life (as a Hitler Studies professor), his consumption habits (as a coping mechanism), and his reaction to the toxic spill. The analysis traces his transformation from a man consumed by abstract fear to one confronting his mortality directly, potentially shifting from "dier" to "killer."
How does technology play a role in the novel according to this analysis?
While not explicitly detailed in the provided summaries, the analysis highlights technology's role in fostering and exacerbating Gladney's anxieties. This likely includes the influence of television, media representations of disaster, and the role of technological advancements in creating new forms of death and fear, as exemplified by the chemical spill.
What are the key chapters and their summaries?
The analysis is structured around several key sections: An introduction outlining the central argument; a section on Gladney's obsession with death, exploring its connection to his profession, consumption, and fear; a section on Gladney's transformation after the toxic spill and his confrontation with mortality; and a section on the role of technology in shaping Gladney's anxieties.
What are the key words associated with this analysis of "White Noise"?
Key words include: Death, obsession, fear, technology, consumption, transformation, Don DeLillo, White Noise, Hitler, anxiety, mortality, victimhood, and violence.
What is the overall objective of this analysis?
The analysis aims to thoroughly analyze the role of death in "White Noise," focusing on Gladney's obsession with mortality and his subsequent transformation. It seeks to understand how fear and obsession drive Gladney's actions and how DeLillo portrays technology's influence on this fear.
For whom is this analysis intended?
This analysis is intended for academic use, providing a structured framework for analyzing the themes in Don DeLillo's "White Noise" in a professional and comprehensive manner.
- Quote paper
- M.A. Jan Riepe (Author), 2002, Death in Don DeLillo's 'White Noise', Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/38368
