The Government
Richard Elster’s invitation to work for the Pentagon begins with an article he published on the subject of rendition. That article begins with a bombshell metaphor:
"A government is a criminal enterprise."
The Movies
A huge element of the plot revolves around one character’s obsession with films, particularly Psycho. The appreciation of the medium far exceeds that limited scope however:
"Film is the barricade. The one we erect, you and I. The one where somebody stands and tells the truth."
The Weird Metaphor
DeLillo is a writer who doesn’t object to tossing in a metaphor that plays around with the entire concept of figurative language. And he’s also not afraid to call attention to it: “
The film made him feel like someone watching a film. The meaning of this escaped him.”
What is Haiku?
Good question. Fortunately, one of the characters in the novel is there to provide the reader with a definition rich in metaphor:
“It’s human consciousness located nature. It's the answer to everything in a set number of lines, a prescribed syllable count…this is the soul of haiku.“
The Essay
The narrator reviews Elster’s article and considers what would have stuck out to him if he’d read it the first time he saw it. Among the memorable aspects:
“There were footnotes like nested snakes.”
