Oswald and his Daddy Issues
In Libra by Don Delillo, Lee Harvey Oswald’s attraction to men like David Ferrie, George de Mohrenschildt, and Alek Hidell shows how his insecurity is intertwined with historical circumstance, shaping the ways he is drawn into events much larger than himself. Oswald grew up without a father, and I suspect that this absence left a lasting hole that Oswald seemed to fill with attention from these older men he encounters. Figures like Ferrie and de Mohrenschildt offered not only their guidance but flattery and praise, treating him as clever, serious, and capable of insight beyond his years. Libra obviously fictionalizes these interactions, but it also feels historically grounded, and shows how personality and the little context given can connect to make a real person susceptible to manipulation.
One of the things all these men have in common is that they notice him, comment on his intelligence, and frame him as someone important that draws him in repeatedly. Ferrie even tells him that he can get into Oswald's head, though he doesn't need that skill to get to him. Oswald is not persuaded purely by ideas or ideology; he is persuaded by the attention itself, the implicit acknowledgment that he is capable, that he matters in a way that no one else seems to understand, and the irony is that this need for recognition situates him perfectly to be influenced by forces he cannot control. "He wanted to be regarded as clever, as the sort of person whose insight mattered to someone larger than himself” (p. 211). This line allows us to see how praise becomes a form of power over him. DeLillo shows that Oswald’s susceptibility is psychological as well as situational: the approval of men he admires gives him a sense of legitimacy, and that legitimacy could feel like authority. His fatherless upbringing amplifies this dynamic, leaving a young man eager to be seen. And in the historical context of Cold War anti-Castro politics, that eagerness becomes dangerously consequential. In this way, Oswald’s personal void (his desire to be recognized, his need for a figure to affirm his importance as some Historical figure) links directly to the political world he inhabits, and it sets the stage for an understanding as to why he is drawn to people like Ferrie, de Mohrenschildt, and Hidell. This pattern repeats itself across his interactions, building a fragile confidence that can be manipulated.
I love the title. The idea that Oswald becomes easily manipulated because of his need for approval-- stemming from rampant daddy issues-- is well evidenced in the book, and very interesting. I wonder if this makes his character more sympathetic? The irony that he plays into peoples hands because all he wants is the gentleness of their approval for being clever enough not to play into anyone's hands. Ie) his blindness to how easily he's manipulated because he enjoys it.
ReplyDeleteHi Alan, great dive into Oswald's mind! I absolutely agree that this pattern is key to Oswald's character. I think you're right that Oswald was very easily manipulated by attention, and compliments to his intelligence, something core to his ego. And the theory that his lacking a father figure is the reason for his attraction to these figures makes sense.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great account of the fundamental approach DeLillo takes in this novel, which I described in class as two-pronged, reflecting the two timelines in the alternating chapters: the novel explores history by threading together the known facts into a plausible narrative by adding "placeholders" to fulfill roles that can't be documented or ascribed to a particular person; and also by a study of *character*, but unpacking Oswald using fictional means to develop a full psychological and emotional profile. So his "daddy issues" end up becoming a big part of the author's speculative analysis: Oswald described himself in his Historic Diary as suffering "loneliness and neglect" (misspelled), and the neglect he refers to likely has to do with the absence of a father throughout his life (it sounds like he'd prefer it if his mother would "neglect" him a little more!). So Oswald's presumed susceptibility to the influences of a Ferrie or a Mackey or a Konno is in some sense a historical fact--what that fact MEANS in terms of his guilt and innocence remains an open question, but it's easy to see a plausible psychological foundation for the manipulation of Oswald.
ReplyDeleteI thought your focus on Oswald’s need for attention and validation from older men was really interesting and made his character feel more understandable. The way you connected his fatherless upbringing to how easily he’s influenced gave a lot of depth to his actions. I also liked how you tied his personal insecurity to the larger historical context, which made the manipulation feel both personal and political.
ReplyDeleteHi Alana. I thought this take on Libra was very interesting, and I can definitely see this being true. He does seem to have a need for attention or validation. The connections made in this post were very interesting, and I can definitely see how these behaviours are connected to Lee's future ways. Nice job!
ReplyDeleteHey Alana, this is a really awesome point about Oswald-- it's kind of heartbreaking, really, he can be manipulated by a simple compliment and some validation. His secrets can be spilled so easily by this simple kindness and manipulation, which is unfortunate because he ends up playing a big part in everything. It can even make you root for him a little bit--this is definitely more on the sadder side of Lee. Great post !!
ReplyDeleteHi Alana! I find it interesting how his almost craving for validation from those men highlight how insecure he is and how that leads him to manipulation. Great post!
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