Lee-gacy
Names are more than a group of letters grouped together to address someone. They are more than a convenience that allow people to talk to one another. Rather, they have significance and have the power to define us. While some names have cultural and familial connections, others have a historical importance, one example being Lee Harvey Oswald.
Throughout the course of Libra, DeLilo has carefully crafted Lee Harvey Oswald’s character. He is referred to by several names over the course of the story, each highlighting the trends of a phase of his life. These names evoke a variety of emotions to both characters in the book as well as people in real life.
Initially, Lee is introduced as a child living with his single mother in poverty. He lacks popularity among his peers and even his brothers. While he is pushed away by the other children for his Southern accent, his half brother (John Edwards) broke contact with Lee, who waved a knife at John Edward’s wife - foreshadowing Lee’s violent abilities. A direct parallel to the trial at the end of the book, Lee is on trial in the beginning for skipping school. The name “Lee” depicts his innocence and attributes his childhood as a mold for anyone’s story, rather than the infamous Lee Harvey Oswald.
Lee soon transforms into Oswald, adopting the militant tone after establishing that the American system is not working effectively. As he believes he becomes a revolutionary by reading Marxist theory, the reader understands his need to be seen and flaunt his knowledge to others. Additionally, he memorizes the Marine Corps Manual, which he narrates while imprisoned, a rite of passage to be remembered in history. With time, Oswald is rooted in a pattern of fighting others and confusing perceptions of the truth. For example, he acquires many false names simply for the sake of it.
Eventually, Oswald becomes the infamous Lee Harvey Oswald, the man who assassinated John F. Kennedy. Although his mother sees him as the pure boy found in the beginning of his biography, his name gained notoriety among everyone else. To himself, I’m sure he’s amazed at the popularity of his name, especially 60 years following his actions. Furthermore, he is not only the cause of JFK assassination conspiracy theory, but he also fathered conspiracy theories overall. I imagine he smirks every time a conspiracy theory is mentioned as he sees it as an extension of his legacy.
Great post! I agree that Lee's name is unique and one that many people know. It is also interesting how the perspective one has on him and his name changes so much throughout the novel. Like when he is young and called "Lee" at school it makes him seem very innocent compared to when he is called Lee Harvey Oswald.
ReplyDeleteNice post! I hadn't really thought much about how Lee's name seems to develop as he ages and develops through the book. I think many of these changes in his name are due to the environment he is in, but that also does coincide with changes that he himself is going through. Also, I agree with you that Lee would be very happy about his impact on history. Lee is a pretty egotistical person and he would enjoy nothing more than historians discussing him and how mysterious he is.
ReplyDeleteGreat points; Lee's various name changes definitely reflect a character arc. And not only do they have power over how we and history see him, but they hold power over Lee himself (I'm specifically thinking of Ferrie calling him "Leon"). Of course one of Lee's life goals was to ascend to the point at which he could really only be referred to by his full name, but when I hear the name "Lee Harvey Oswald," the image in my mind is only of a gun firing out of a window, whereas when I hear "Lee," I see his face with that smirk. If this makes any sense, I wonder ultimately which name of theirs people want to be remembered by? Anyway, great post!
ReplyDeleteYou bring up a really good point about the importance of the name of character in a story. Libra did a really good job of differentiating between the different phases of Lee's life by changing his name. In the very beginning of the book, Lee was the innocent little boy that wanted nothing but love from his family. The story shifts to Oswald as he becomes an assassin-to-be, a crazed man who loves reading propaganda. Finally, the book ends with him being referred to as Lee Harvey Oswald, the killer we know him as today. Awesome job!
ReplyDeleteGood post! I think it's very important that Lee's name is not just used to identify him, but it is also a reflection of his character. The change from Lee to Lee Harvey Oswald represents a change in himself and how he is viewed by others. Lee is the innocent young man just trying to live his life, while Lee Harvey Oswald is the murderer that ultimately killed the president.
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of a progression in character reflected in "Lee" to "Oswald" to "Lee Harvey Oswald." But don't forget all of the other names and personae in the mix--Hidell, Ozzie the Rabbit, "Leon." And his "final alias," William Bobo, which was originally carved on his tombstone. It's definitely an interesting (and, for DeLillo's purposes, convenient) fact that the historical Oswald had a fondness for creating new names for himself. And then it's ironic at the moment when he "becomes historical," and he hears his "real" given name in full on the radio, and it sounds "made-up and dumb." Hidell, presumably, would have sounded less made-up and dumb?
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