PAPER
Longing for Peace in DeLillo’s Underworld
Kinuyo Koikawa1)
概要
本稿は20世紀後半のアメリカで生きることの意味を、言葉の力（特に１単語）に焦点を当てながら、デリーロの作品『アンダー
ワールド』（1997）を通して考察するものである。主人公ニック・シェイの精神的な苦悩を通し、平和に託した思いを論じる。
第１セクションでは、電脳空間の人間への影響及びこの空間がパラノイアか否かという視点から論じる。次のセクションでは、
ヴァーチャルではない現実世界、特に主人公のニック・シェイの経験を中心に読み解いていく。カザフスタンの原爆実験場の
悲惨さを目の当たりにする等、アメリカ人としての苦闘、寂寥感にさいなまされるニックを検証していく。最後のセクション
では、言葉の持つ力に揺るぎない信頼を寄せるデリーロがこの小説の終わりに記した「平和」についての考察を提示する。
キーワード：電脳空間（サイバースペース）、平和を願う強い思い、パラノイア信仰、原子爆弾、生と死、時空、つながり、神々
しい一文字
Key words：Cyberspace, desire for peace, the faith of paranoia, atomic bombs, death in life, time and space, connections, a
seraphic single word.
Introduction
32
This work starts with Cotter, but the rest of this novel
Don DeLillo has been acknowledged as a magician
develops centering on Nick while following the trajectory
of words, weaving words to reflect modern society. His
of the homerun ball. In that sense, this is the story of
827-page novel Underworld (1997) is no exception, with
how Nick grows up in America with“a shine in his eye
each word delicately connoting something intriguing. This
that’s halfway hopeful. ”This sentence is also skillfully
novel starts with“ He speaks in your voice, American,
consistent with the last paragraphs, where the omniscient
1
and there’s shine in his eye that’s halfway hopeful. ”
voice of the narrative speaks quietly, ending with the
“ He ”actually refers to Cotter Martin, a fourteen-year
one word“ Peace ”(827). Duvall, a critic, also says that
old“ dark-skinned kid, ”(13) who successfully entered
“ Nick’s presence in the final pages emerges despite the
the stadium without the guards seeing him to watch the
apparent omniscience of the narrative voice through
baseball game between the New York Giants and the
the repeated direct addresses to the implicated reader ”
Brooklyn Dodgers at the Polo Grounds in the Bronx on
(Duvall 68), that is, the final pages leave us readers no
October, 1951, and who was lucky enough to retrieve
other alternative but to perceive Nick’s presence. From
a homerun ball. His father, however, stole his hard-
that perspective, this paper examines the last part, in
obtained homerun ball without saying anything and sold
which Nick’s“ spiritual travail ”(Coward, 189) seems to
it. Nick Shay, the protagonist of Underworld, is the son of
be crystalized, and he finds his way by contemplating
Italian immigrant parents. Like Cotter, he was excited to
listen to the baseball game, taking“ his radio up to the
2
“Peace.”
Numerous critics have analyzed this work so far. David
roof of his building so he can listen alone” at the age of
Coward, for example, says“ Throughout [this story] . . . ,
sixteen (32). Both Cotter and Nick share other common
Nick presents himself to the reader as a person who,
elements; for instance, Cotter’s jubilant and confused
though unable finally to transcend his past and what
facial expressions suggest Nick’s. We might thus suggest
it has done to him, seems nonetheless to be moving
that“ He ”refers not only to Cotter but also to Nick.
toward a degree of equanimity”(Coward 186). However,
1）近畿大学産業理工学部教養・基礎教育部門教授　[email protected]
Longing for Peace in DeLillo’s Underworld
he argues that“ [i]n the epilogue Nick remains subject
perception, as seen in the film Matrix, depicting“a future
to feelings of loneliness, loss, and confusion ”(Coward
in which reality as perceived by most humans is actually
189). Furthermore, he concludes peace is an irrealizable
a simulated reality created by sentient machines to pacify
idea, citing words from the text:“Peace . . . is the word’s
and subdue the human population, while their bodies’
wistful implication – a desire for something lost or fled
heat and electrical activity are used as an energy source”
or otherwise out of reach”(803). His conclusion seems to
“
( Matrix ”). Here we cannot but mention that he must
leave much room for discussion, however.
have cast his keen eyes on the social circumstances of
A close look at the closing paragraphs surely offers
the day, when the term“cyberspace”(Gibson xviii) was
some keys to understand some attribution of computer
coined by William Gibson.3 We now enjoy exchanging our
net spaces which characterize perception in the late
ideas or opinions through cyberspace, but the activity
20th century: Nick’s spiritual distress, and a desire for
possesses an element of danger: excessive involvement
“Peace.”The first section of this essay focuses on“lunar
in the networks seemingly creates the illusion of living
milk ”(826). It is intriguing to explore how cyberspace
in a virtual society. This section will discuss whether
influences human behaviors and analyze what“ a single
technology creates“the paranoid spaces of the computer
seraphic word ”could possibly mean. This section will
net ” and how human behavior is affected will be
also determine whether cyberspace has the potential to
explored.
make our world peaceful. The second section will focus
In the context of such a social background, the
on an off-screen world: it is a multilayered world. Nick’s
following sentence,“ A word appears in the lunar milk
various experiences secretly contained in a part of the
of the data stream ”(826), gives a significant hint when
last paragraphs will be unraveled. Furthermore it will be
considering whether the relationship between computer
discussed whether such an off-line world is authentic, by
networks and humans is paranoid. This sentence
tracing back our history, explaining what lies in daily life,
indicates a scene in which one word is displayed on the
and examining individuals’ experiences beyond time and
computer monitor. But why does DeLillo dare to say
space. In the third section, what lies behind“Peace”will
“in the lunar milk of the data stream,”instead of simply
be clarified. Based on the first and the second sections,
saying“in data on the monitor”
? Considering that“lunar”
this section makes an attempt to form a hypothesis about
can imply madness and“ milk ”is a white liquid which
how Nick deals with his“ longing ”(11, 827) after his
fundamentally fosters kids’ healthy growth, we can easily
spiritual struggle, and consider what“peace”connotes.
imagine that, as if kids are growing up drinking milk, our
perception is being formed using a computer because
I. Lunar Milk
we are exposed to“ the data stream ”and absorb the
In the late 20th century, we witnessed tremendous
data which have possibilities to make us insane. That is,
“ technological evolution ”(Homer), and many people
the unlimitedly flowing information has greatly affected
tended to depend on technology excessively. DeLillo saw
our perception and consequently our way of thinking
such a risky relation between humans and technology,
has become“a kind of technical information processing”
and claims that“‘The worship of technology ends in the
(Moran 244). If our thinking becomes so, our being as
paranoid spaces of the computer net,’ citing the case of
humans may be threatened – our perception tends to
the Heaven’s Gate group and their mass suicide”(Howard
become paranoid.
124). His concern about this relation can be seen in the
DeLillo’s claim,“ [a]ll technology refers to the Bomb ”
last part of Underworld starting with a consideration of
(Howard 124), also clearly implies how cyberspace is
the world and cyberspace. The omniscient voice raises
paranoid, which is embodied in a scene of explosion of
a question whether cyberspace is within the world or
hydrogen bombs;“ Shot after shot, bomb after bomb,
the opposite:“Is cyberspace a thing within the world or
and they are fusion bombs, remember, atoms forcibly
is it the other way around? Which contains the other,
combined, and even as they detonate across the screen,
and how can you tell for sure? ”(826). We have already
again and again ”(826).4 Such a virtual nuclear bombing
realized cyberspace has begun to overwhelm human
paranoid site is visited by Sister Edgar, who was a
33
近畿大学産業理工学部かやのもり　23（2015）
nun and took care of the poor excluded from benefits
it makes everything true ”(801-802). Entering something
of consumerism culture. After she dies, she goes
into a computer, we will witness it will become reality.
into cyberspace, not to heaven. She“ feels the grip of
That is, once nuclear bombs are simulated in the spaces
systems. This is why she’s so uneasy. . . . She senses the
of computer, and then such fatal bombs may actually be
paranoia of the web, the net”(825). She understands that
generated and used somewhere in the real world.
“Everything [is] in your computer”(825). When she visits
the H-bomb home page,
As the passages above suggest, computer nets have
created paranoid spaces, but DeLillo never fails to
explore the other side of computer nets: there is“a belief
she sees the flash, the thermal pulse. . . . the fireball
in renewal ”(Osteen 259) in Underworld. It is probable
climbing, the superheated sphere of burning gas
that he thinks that if there is a slight chance that entered
that can blind a person with its beauty, its dripping
equations or words can become reality, a word indicating
christblood colors, solar golds and reds. She . . . feels
our wish can become reality, too. His strong wish is
the power of false faith, the faith of paranoia, and
embodied in the following sentences. If such a word is
then the mushroom cloud spreads around her. (825)
entered into a computer,
Through Sister Edgar’s eyes, DeLillo successfully
You see it on your monitor, replacing the tower shots
describes well that the spaces of the computer net tend
and airbursts, the detonations of high-yield devices
to blind our eyes: for example, dehumanizing atrocities
set on barges or dangled from balloons, replacing
such as H-bombing explosions are embellished with
the comprehensive text displays that accompany the
its apparent beauty. Finally, we may feel ourselves
bombs. A single seraphic word. (826)
surrendering to“ the power of false faith ”in nuclear
bombs.
The simulation of the explosion of nuclear bombs
34
The above sentences tell us that the word on the monitor
has power strong enough to change life-threatening
in cyberspace as we see above is“ [t]he apotheosis of
situations. The key word is a“ single seraphic word, ”
simulation”(Baudrillard 474), and nuclear bombs act only
which can replace everything accompanying the bombs.
as a deterrent, according to Baudrillard. DeLillo, however,
This also reminds us of some phrase in The Cloud of
takes a different and unique approach toward such
Unknowing:“ a single word of a single syllable”(295) for
destructive bombs. Matt Shay, Nick’s younger brother
our protection.
asks,
If you want to gather all your desire into one simple
how a brief equation that you tentatively enter on
word that the mind can easily retain, choose a
your screen might alter the course of many lives,
shorter word rather than a long one. A one-syllable
might cause the blood to rush through the body of
word such as“ God ”or“ love ”is best. But choose
a woman on a tram many thousands of miles away,
one that is meaningful to you. Then fix it in your
and how do you define this kind of relationship? ”
mind so that it will remain there come what may.
(408-09)
This word will be your defense in conflict and in
peace. Use it to beat upon the cloud of darkness
Having an intention to make something new and
above you and subdue all distractions. . . (Johnston
writing down its equations on computer screens enable
48)
you to see the possibility that it will become reality.
Therefore,“ Once they imagine the bomb, write down
The paragraph above is surely suggestive. A single
equations, ”says Viktor Maltsey, an executive of Nick’s
syllable word will protect us at any time. Though Nick
client’s company,“ they see it’s possible to build, they
says it would be“Love,”
“Help,”or“Aiuto”(296), DeLillo
build, they test in the American desert, they drop on
has carefully prepared to lead us to one word at the
the Japanese, but once they imagine in the beginning,
end of the work,“ Peace. ”We have realized that even
Longing for Peace in DeLillo’s Underworld
one word, even though it is virtual, has great influence
to huge amounts of information in cyberspace. It can be
on our real life. Though the spaces of the computer net
said that the computer net is an inexhaustible treasure
are paranoid, they have a great potential to giving and
box full of tremendous knowledge, in which knowledge is
protecting life.
interlinked.
Not only surprising connections between one word on
a monitor and threat on our life due to the embodiment
II.　Off-Screen
of the word, as mentioned above, but also connections
After consideration whether cyberspace is paranoid
between individuals take place in cyberspace. The
or contains hope, DeLillo skillfully turns our eyes outside
possibility of a new world is discussed.
cyberspace. At a glance, the following first half of a long
sentence seems to describe only daily life. However,
[T]here is another fusion taking place. No physical
a close examination about it shows that it effectively
contact, please but a coupling all the same. . . . Sister
enables the reader to cast a glance back over the latter
joins the other Edgar. . . . Everything is connected in
half of the 20th century, which is carefully described in
the end. Sister and brother. A fantasy in cyberspace
Underworld, especially over the life of Nick. The early
and a way of seeing the other side and a settling
part of the sentence starts with the following:
of differences that have less to do with gender
than with difference itself, all argument, all conflict
programmed out. (826)
And you can glance out the window for a moment,
distracted by the sound of small kids playing a madeup game in a neighbor’s yard, some kind of kickball
After the death of Sister Edgar, she goes to cyberspace,
5
maybe, and they speak in your voice, or piggyback
where she joins Edgar Hoover, Director of CIA. If
races on the weedy lawn, and it’s your voice you
you enter“ Edgar ”in your computer’s search engine,
hear, essentially, under the glimmerglass sky, and
you can get the information concerning Sister Edgar
you look at the things in the room, offscreen . . . (827)
35
and Edgar Hoover on the same sites, where there is
little discrimination - age, race, sex and social status. In
Off screen, when you look outside, your thinking is drawn
addition, if you create a computer program capable of
in different directions because of the voices and sounds
creating a world with no conflict, you will see a virtual
of kids enjoyably playing in a nearby yard under the
peaceful world.
shining blue sky. This part makes you consider what is
DeLillo also shows other connections through the
computer net: one word is connected to another word
behind playing kids, things in the room, and how Nick’s
experience is inserted here.
one after another. The omniscient voice continues and
First, with a profound insight into the scene where
recommends you check the various meanings of the word
children are playing, ardent readers cannot help but
from its origins, just by entering the word and clicking it.
realize the shadow of death lies hidden in daily life. That
is because kids playing in the yard easily remind them
Y ou can examine the word [Peace] with a click,
of Brueghel’s Children’s Games. When Klara, with whom
tracing its origins, development, earliest known
Nick had an affair only once when he was seventeen
use, . . . in a thousand languages and dialects living
years old, sees the picture, she says to her first husband,
and dead, and locate literary citations, and follow
Albert Bronzini, that“ I say it’s not that different from
the word through the tunneled underworld of its
the other famous Bruegel, armies of death marching
ancestral roots. Fasten, fit closely, bind together.
across the landscape. The children are fat, backward, a
(826-827)
little sinister to me. It’s some kind of menace, some folly.
Kinderspielen. They look like dwarves doing something
Only with one click, you can retrieve numerous meanings
awful ”(682). She may feel death creeping into life, that
of the word, depending on time, nations and districts.
is, a death“ that is at work ”(Derrida 68). This picture
Needless to say, searching the Internet is connecting you
overlaps with another of Brueghel’s painting, The Triumph
近畿大学産業理工学部かやのもり　23（2015）
of Death, described in the prologue of the novel. Toward
“ He speaks in your voice, America ”(11). Presumably,
the end of the Giants-Dodgers baseball game in 1951,
“ kids ”includes children of immigrants, and they are
Edgar Hoover, who enjoyed the game, heard the news
playing in a neighbor’s yard in America, and their
about the success of a Soviet atomic test in Kazakhstan
communication is carried out in the common language,
and at the same time found two pages torn away from
American.“ He ”in the first page expands to“ kids, ”
a popular magazine, Life, falling on his shoulders, along
which surely indicates that this novel is about how
with other paper waste and other objects thrown by the
immigrants’ sons, including Nick, are living in America.
excited baseball fans. The pages featured The Triumph of
Next, the scene of playing kids moves to another scene,
Death. He thought,“Yes, the dead fall upon the living. . . .
“the things in the room.”They are vividly described, in
Death everywhere”(50). A comparison between the two
contrast to the monotonous“ lunar milk. ”For example,
Brueghels leads us to think of death lying hidden in life
even“the grain of the deskwood”looks“alive in light”
across time and space: playing kids are implicitly linked
(827).“Light”reminds us of several scenes. One is a scene
to the dead lying on the war-torn land; the concurrent
where Nick“felt a soft joy settle”in his chest when his
events of the baseball victory and the Soviet success in
granddaughter was born and he“watched her naked in
nuclear tests are juxtaposed; waves of excitement pass
her mother’s arms, swimming in a ribbon of light”(120).
through the crowded fans and Life’s pages falling down
We can see a spark of a new life in light. On the contrary,
upon Edgar Hoover are also spectacular comparisons
in another scene,“ light ”connotes an existential threat
between life and death.
due to atomic bombs:“the world lights up”by“simulating
Furthermore,“the kids playing”also recalls a terrible
the release of a fifty-kiloton nuclear bomb ”(613). After
scene that Nick saw when he visited Kazakhstan. He
releasing it, Louis, bomber crew, realizes that“ [a] glow
witnessed,
enters the body that’s like the touch of God. And Louis
can see the bones in his hands through his closed eyes,
Children played a game in the dirt, six boys and girls
36
through the thick pillow he’s got jammed in his face ”
with missing arms, left arms in every case, knotted
and says“ I move my head, there’s whole skeletons
below the elbow. The eyeless boy was also here.
dancing in the flash. . . . We are dead men flying”(613).
. . . his head slightly oversized, face and forehead
We understand how his being is threatened, being on the
marked by tumors, and the spongy caps over the
verge of death in this world.
place where his eyes should have been. . . . The kids
Another phrase“ the apple core going sepia ”(827)
are playing follow the leader. . . . They all fall down,
successfully catches the flow of time. Every living
get up. (802)
gradually heads for death. By expressing the changing
status of an apple as time goes by, DeLillo shows the
Nick cannot avert his eyes from the catastrophic reality
off-screen world is mortal, unlike immortal cyberspace,
caused by nuclear tests with the use of actual atomic
where there is“ no space or time out here, or in here ”
bombs, whose production starts just from imagining them
(825). Furthermore, other phrases,“in a random glance,”
and writing their equations on a computer monitor. This
“ skewed all crazy ”and“ the chipped rim of the mug, ”
scene strongly shows a tragedy triggered by the egoistic
exquisitely express the randomness or imperfection of
intentions of nuclear powers in the name of a deterrent
our daily life (827). This randomness attests that this
against nuclear wars. Therefore, the simple phrase“kids
world is arbitrary, because“living authentic entails living
playing ”carries double meaning: kids“ under the great
with the knowledge both that ways of living are arbitrary
split sky”(803) secretly inserted in a scene of kids“under
and that they will come to an end (death),”according to
the glimmerglass sky. ”That is, the phrase serves as a
Heidegger (Crossley 159). And the imperfection connotes
kind of reminder of hush reality behind the tranquil sight.
our real world where things are changing their shapes as
And kids“ speak in your voice, or piggyback races
time goes by.
on the weedy lawn, and it’s your voice you hear. ”This
Thirdly, experience is discussed. The phrase,“ dense
phrase is clearly linked to the first sentence of this work,
measures of experience ”(827) implies Nick’s various
Longing for Peace in DeLillo’s Underworld
experiences: a sense of loss lingering in his mind, due
farewell, a word that carries the sunlit ardor of an
to the disappearance of his father, Jimmy Costanza,
object deep in drenching noon, the argument of
the defeat of the Dodgers, a love affair with a married
binding touch,. . . (827)
woman, the killing of his friend, George Manza, and his
wife’s adultery with his colleague, Braina Glassic; a sense
The far reaching meanings of the word on the screen are
of alienation as a father and a waste manager; a sense
introduced as above. Surprisingly it has much to do with
of helplessness when facing physically handicapped kids
disorder or wars. We can imagine some stories just by
suffering from nuclear tests; a sense of joy at the time
following the meanings of the word. The word originally
of his granddaughter’s birth, and the recovery of a good
meant“ freedom from civil disorder ”(Etymology). From
relationship with his wife. He has lived for fifty seven
its original meaning, the word has been used as“ its
years in America, which means he has witnessed the
sense of serenities and contentments out into the streets”
history of the latter half of the 20th century in America
obtained after disorder. In such a sense,“ its whisper
and experienced not only America’s well-known historical
of reconciliation ”is understandable. After a war or a
events but also its “ geography, all space and light
dispute, reconciliation is necessary between two nations
and shadow and unspeakable hanging heat ”(86). His
or two parties, and some“ agreement or treaty ”should
experience seemingly represents Americans’, as indicated
be signed. At last, comfort is attained and silent time for
in the sentence:“ he is part of an assembling crowd,
placating the opponents or the defeated is necessary. Of
anonymous thousands off the buses, and trains ”(11).
course, there is a victory drive, as well as get-wrenching
Furthermore,“ the monk’s candle reflected in the slope
parting from loved ones. Finally, balmy days return.6 At
of the phone, . . and the glaze of the wax, and the curl of
the same time, how to treat the defeated and how to
the braided wick”(827) also vividly reminds us of Nick’s
consolidate their country may be discussed. By writing
experience to receive Jesuit education, including his stay
the name of“ Homer ”and by implying the name of
in the juvenile correction center in Minnesota after killing
Alexander the Great in“ Hamlet ”in this novel (132),
his friend, because“monks,”
“candle,”
“wax,”and“wick”
DeLillo makes an attempt to insert historicity here: since
suggest institutions related to religion. In this phrase,
the dawn of history, we have fought against each other,
it seems that some moments in such institutions are
waging bloody wars, conquering enemies, and regaining
captured. The“hours marked in Roman numerals”(827)
peaceful daily life by binding together. In this way,
also indicates the flow of time. The spatial movement
following the meanings of“peace”enables us to consider
in the flow of time - his move from Bronx, Minnesota
our long history of wars, disputes and peace. In addition,
to Phoenix, from the past to the present, - is crystalized
you think that“peace”on the computer screen is“only
here, as shown in other scenes which move forward and
a sequence of pulses on a dullish screen and all it can do
backward through time and space.
is make you pensive”(827). You realize the word is just
an ensemble of pulses entered and displayed on a boring
III.　Imagination and Embodiment
monitor. As a result, you may be absorbed in thought. If
Again our attention is paid to the word,“Peace,”on the
“you”represents Nick, he may feel dejected because he
screen, and our imagination is stirred by following several
realizes that there have always been wars and disputes
other meanings of that word. The sentence continues,
since ancient times, and that there are wars or disputes
behind“ peace. ”Even now we are still exposed to a
a nd you try to imagine the word on the screen
becoming a thing in the world, taking all its
threat of annihilation due to the advance of technology,
especially the development of nuclear weapons.
meanings, its sense of serenities and contentments
If what lies hidden in“ peace ”may trigger a sense
out into the streets somehow, its whisper of
of emptiness and make you feel“ pensive, ”is Nick also
reconciliation, a word extending itself ever outward,
hopeless? DeLillo prepares a positive message in the last:
the tone of agreement or treaty, the tone of repose,
the sense of mollifying silence, the tone of hail and
a word that spreads a longing through the raw
37
近畿大学産業理工学部かやのもり　23（2015）
sprawl of the city and out across the dreaming
individuals beyond regional and national borders, which
bourns and orchards to the solitary hills. Peace. (827)
may lead to the realization of peace.
After the long consideration of the word“ peace, ”at
The word on the screen flies off of the screen as if
last“ Peace ”is expressed in letters at the end of the
cyberspace and the real world were fused through
novel. It indicates DeLillo’s firm belief in the power
the intervention of the word, and it“ spreads longing ”
of language, as seen in his other works. DeLillo is
through the city, which is expanding, but not well-
always concerned about the influence of language:“ Let
organized yet. If“ [l]onging on a large scale is what
language shape the world, [and l]et it break the faith of
makes history ”(11),“ a longing ”may serve as a role
conventional re-creation ”(DeLillo“ Power ”). It can be
to create a new history of the city. And it spreads a
said that his message is embodied here. As mentioned
longing“out across the dreaming bourns and orchards,”
in The Cloud of Unknown, believing the power of language
which are within our reach, and then to“solitary hills,”
encourages us to envision an ideal world and drives us
which are far from our reach, that is, places at a distance
to make the blueprint a reality without being trapped by
from people and the Internet and other communication
a blind belief in conventional ideas. Here in this context,
devices. That is, the word seems to create a new world –
“ Peace ”on the computer monitor is only a word, but
a world as if cyberspace, society and the realm outside of
there is a possibility that only one word may change the
society were connected through the word.“Peace”also,
world. Furthermore, considering the first sentence of this
of course, calls to mind the“peace movement”launched
novel,“ there’s shine in his eye that’s halfway hopeful ”
by students during the 1960’s in the US, with the aim of
(1), you can see there is an earnest wish: having a strong
ending the Vietnam War and creating an ideal world. The
longing for peace and expressing it may be a step toward
protests became more active along with the Civil Rights
a peaceful future.
Movement “
( Research ”). Martin Luther King observed
38
that“ as the movement took hold, a revival of social
Conclusion
awareness spread across campuses from Cambridge to
As we have witnessed, cyberspace has paranoid aspects
California. It spilled over the boundaries of the single
because we grow up exposed to tremendous amounts of
issue of desegregation and encompassed questions of
information, some of which is not reliable, and as a result
peace, civil liberties, capital punishment and others”(King
we may face a risk of becoming excessively dependent
161). It is obvious that the 1960’s was an era when many
on it and then our way of thinking may become
people said they sought for peace. Their desire for peace
technological. In addition, paranoid scenes can also be
spread and enabled them to envision a new order.
seen in cyberspace: the simulation of the explosion of
1960 was also a significant year in another sense, since
hydrogen bombs. Just looking at it, some may blindly
that was when the theory of the information society
worship bombs. This is just“the faith of paranoia”(825).
7
was becoming widespread. According to this theory, we
On the other hand, we have witnessed there are some
would be connected everywhere. Yoneji Masuda, known
potentials in cyberspace, such as DeLillo’s strong desire
as the“ Father of the Information Society ”(Luukanen-
for peace, as well as, endless connections. Good fusions
Kilde), predicted that “ computer-communications
may take place in cyberspace, and as a result, we can say
technology can help us expand our problem solving
that there is hope there.
capacity by reaching beyond the limitations of time
In the off-screen world, we can see“ kids playing ”
and space ”(Masuda 64). He also forecast that in the
(827), which reminds us of various scenes, where time
information society, individuals would be connected
and space are intertwined: kids playing in modern
by transcending regional and national borders, and
Kazakhstan versus kids playing in Bruegel’s pictures
consequently they would produce something new,
drawn in the medieval age; The Cloud of Unknowing read
and forge ties to promote it (Masuda 66). Therefore, if
by Nick in the modern age versus that book published in
we have an intention to achieve peace, our yearning
the medieval age; the simultaneous occurrence of the epic
for peace may be shared by a tremendous number of
baseball game in Polo Ground in America and the success
Longing for Peace in DeLillo’s Underworld
of an atomic test in Kazakhstan. Furthermore, Nick’s
various experiences can be recapped here: his struggles
and joys; his longings and alienation as a representative
of America. His experiences are described forward and
backward through time and space.
Nick’s various experiences, including hard ones, may
lead him to have a longing for peace at the end of the
Cold War, at which point this novel ends. His longing
for peace is spreading outside geographical and cultural
borders so that anyone can be connected to others,
anywhere, anytime, especially through cyberspace, though
he sees cyberspace partly as paranoid and dull, compared
to the world full of multilayered experiences. Considering
such connection in cyberspace, along with the theory of
the information society, desire for peace is going to be
shared with numerous individuals and consequently such
connections will open the door to a peaceful future. In
addition, with DeLillo’s unwavering belief in the power
of language,“Peace”at the end of this novel may invoke
the importance of our strong desire to achieve it.
Notes
1. DeLillo, Don. . Underworld. New York: Scribner, 1997,
p. 1. All subsequent quotations from Underworld are
cited parenthetically in the text.
2. Behind Nick lies the face of DeLillo, because DeLillo
was also the son of Italian immigrant parents and
tried to become an American through language.
Interviewed by Niimoto, DeLillo says,“ Nick Shay
listening to the historical baseball game covered live
on radio on the roof of the building was reminiscent
of my young life. DeLillo, an Italian American, born
in Bronx, identifies himself with Nick”(新元72).
3. William Gibson, an American-Canadian novelist,
prefaced The Matrix: The Shooting Script (2002).
Through his works, the term“ cyberspace ”and his
concept about it reportedly spread worldwide. Larry
McCaffery, a critic, says that Gibson’s Neuromancer
(1984) has“its startling similes and metaphors drawn
from computers and other technologies, and its
ability to create a powerfully resonant metaphor-the cyberspace of the computer matrix--where data
dance with human consciousness, where human
memory is literalized and mechanized, where multinational informations systems mutate and breed
into startling new structures whose beauty and
complexity are unimaginable, mystical, and above all
nonhuman”(McCaffery 264).
4. This scene was cited by Philip Roth at the ceremony
for the 2010 PEN/Saul Bellow award for American
fiction. He concluded his announcement, saying“It is
for that combination of terror and comedy and sheer
song that everyone wants to give Don DeLillo an
award”(Dugan).
5. In the scene of the baseball game in the Prologue,
leading figures of the day are depicted based on
DeLillo’s research. Don DeLillo says“ I did research
on the game and I found out that these men were
among the spectators, Hoover, Gleason, and Toots
Shor. It was a breakthrough for me when I found out
that Hoover had seen the game, because that made it
possible for me to link the game to the Soviet atomic
explosion on the other side of the planet. Maybe
there wouldn’t have been a novel if I didn’t found out
about Hoover”(Jensen).
6. Edward Said also declares the relation between
reconciliation and peace in his essay:“ I sincerely
believe in reconciliation between peoples and cultures
in collision, and have made it my life’s work to try
to further that end. But true reconciliation cannot
be imposed; neither can it occur between cultures
and societies that are enormously uneven in power.
The kind of reconciliation that can bring real peace
can only occur between equals, between partners
whose independence, strength of purpose, and inner
cohesion allows them fully to understand and share
with each other. (Edward W. Said,“On Lost Causes,”
Reflections on Exile and Other Essays, 553.)
7. Y. Masuda’s book, the Information Society, was
acclaimed worldwide when it was published.
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