Paternalistic Connections in Libra
Paternalistic Connections in Libra
Growing up without a stable father figure in The Bronx, Lee Harvey Oswald embodies characteristics of a misfit antihero with little male role models initially to lean on. This is perhaps why, as Oswald (addressed throughout the novel by various pseudonyms, including Lee, Ozzie, Alek, and Leon , finds himself transfixed in male figures who have something to offer him, either physical or intellectual. Oswald is a simultaneous self-proclaimed “know-it-all” who knows little about the world, and much of his actions come from places of trying to seek out outsider attention. Some of us may need food and water to survive, but Oswald needs male attention and affirmation.
A notable “father figure” to Oswald is Konno, “an interesting guy… with wavy hair and dark glasses” Oswald meets while being stationed in Atsugi, Japan (Delillo 83). Konno becomes someone Oswald is able to confide his left wing and Marxist ideology with, and they bond over Communism and U2 planes. In exchange for Oswald telling Konno about info about the US U2s, Konno gives Oswald a .22 handgun. This gun later becomes the weapon in which Oswald shoots himself with in order to evade light duty in Atsugi, which backfires.
Another “father figure” to Oswald is George de Mohrenschildt, a real-life American petroleum geologist, anti-communist political refugee, and occasional CIA agent. Following Oswald and Bobby Dupard’s assassination attempt on General Walker, Oswald sends de Mohrenschildt a photo of Oswald holding up the rifle used to shoot Walker. It is reasonable to speculate why Oswald did this—as de Mohrenschildt knew immediately that Oswald was the one who attempted the assassination, which was hidden from the public, it seems that Oswald is seeking some sort of affirmation from de Mohrenschildt.
One final “father figure” to Oswald is David Ferrie, a real-life pilot alleged to be part of the conspiracy of the Kennedy assassination. After his assassination attempt on General Walker, Oswald moves his family to New Orleans and runs into David Ferrie. The two reacquaint themselves, and Ferrie invites Oswald to be a part of the JFK assassination. Ferrie not only acts as a father figure to Oswald by confiding his trust in Oswald to carry out the Kennedy assassination, but fosters the development of Oswald’s political extremism.
Nice post, Robert! I really like how you draw a parallel between Oswald's need for attention and affirmation to our need for food and water for survival; it accurately characterizes Oswald's desperate obsession for notoriety and acknowledgement. It reveals how Oswald's actions aren't simply motivated by his own decisions, but they are also influenced with the manipulations of these paternalistic figures.
ReplyDeleteI think contrasting the need for food & water to Oswald's desire for attention is a very good comparison that shows how much he actually wanted attention, to the point that it was like food for him. I also like you show his pliable side, and how he had three father figures that manipulated him. I think you do a great job showing why Oswald would end up killing JFK, showing how he was easily influenced but also had a constant craving for attention.
ReplyDeleteInteresting how you compared Lee's behavior to food or water, but it makes a lot of sense. Lee's need for someone to lean on and his desire for attention keeps him going, just as we need food and drink to survive. This point is repeated throughout the story and demonstrates Lee's motivation for assassinating JFK.
ReplyDeleteI think it's very interesting that Lee Oswald, not having a biological father, tries to fill this void through finding father figures within his friends. I think this is insightful for understanding Lee's desperate attempts to find stability within his life and meaning. Overall, great blog post!
ReplyDeleteThis is a great blog post! I was intrigued by your depiction of Lee as an "antihero". Calling Lee an antihero seems to insinuate Lee the protagonist of the story of Libra, and to me, Lee seems less like a main character in Libra but rather, a character who wants to be the main character. It doesn't seem like Lee play a main role in the actual conspiracy plot, but instead is a catalyst to it.
ReplyDeleteOswald seems to always listen more attentively to people who he deems are more knowledgable than he is. Most of the guys you listed in the blog leave an impression on Oswald, earning his trust and then being able to manipulate him to their goals and ambitions. These people serve as his father figure making him feel valuable.
ReplyDeleteHi Robert,
ReplyDeleteWhile that Lee is easily manipulable by older male figures, I would say that some characters leave deeper impacts on Lee than others. In particular, David Ferrie goes to great lengths to mold Lee into the assassin, from astrology to blackmail to sexual assault. Furthermore, DeLillo also complicates the plot by incorporating multiple layers of manipulation and control: Mackey manipulate Ferrie who manipulates Lee who controls Marina. Overall great post, would read again.
The way Lee thinks about historical figures like Marx and especially Trotsky might also be viewed as "father figures" of a sort: Lee defines himself from his youth as a "communist," and while like everything else, his communism wavers in terms of commitment and consistency, but it is an idea that sticks with him for his entire short life. Without a father figure around whom to ground his ideals and values, Lee could be seen as developing a kind of compensatory ideological commitment--these German and Russian thinkers give him an "angle" from which to defend his mother and himself and to articulate his (valid) dissatisfaction with "the system" and the fact that he and his mother are "zeroes" in it. (And their struggles have a lot to do with the death of Lee's father and Marguerite's bad luck with Mr. Ekdhal.)
ReplyDeleteRobert as per usual amazing blog post! Your points about Lee and his daddy issues really drive home Lee's desire to be noticed in the world. I think that everything in the story boils down to Lee having a big desire to be noticed and recognized/respected which leads him to all of his delusions about how significant he actually is. Keep up the amazing work!
ReplyDelete