It’s not Harvard Material But….

In Don Delilo’s, White Noise different themes are shown throughout the novel. Some themes that are shown often are the fear of death, loss of identity, technology as the enemy and American consumerism. The society represented in the novel views the people as objects and is emotionally detached from many things. The culture that’s represented in the novel adds to the loss of individualism, but also works hand in hand with consumerism.

Jack Gladney, the main character in the book teachers Hitler studies. He has a hidden fear of death that grows gradually throughout the book. He is so infatuated with death and his studies; he starts to lose his individuality. He spends so much time talking and educating people about Hitler, but he still feels the need to hide behind a robe and thick glasses. When he is out of his element he is insecure and isn’t sure who he is as a person without his studies. To make himself look more established as a professional he added a false initial in his name to sound legitimate. “I spent a lot of time in my office, hiding.” (DeLillo, 261) This is said when he was surrounded around German speaking people and feels insecure about his intelligence. Even though he is one of the best in his field, once there’s a minor downfall insecurity takes over. You’re not an individual if you live life in accordance to society and its expectations and that’s exactly what he is doing. He is lost and without his Hitler study, he is not very sure of whom he is.

When Gladney was out in public one of his colleagues ran into him and saw him without his robe and thick glasses. He points out to Gladney that he doesn’t like as intimidating anymore, he actually looks harmless and not distinctive at all. The identity that he made u...

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...king pictures but not one detail about the barn. DeLillo deliberately wrote about the surroundings and not about the barn to prove the tourists state of mind. “Once you’ve seen the signs about the barn, it becomes impossible to see the barn.” (DeLillo 12) They don’t ask the reasoning behind the barn they just want a picture for the hype of the site and to be a part of what everyone else is doing.

The reputation the barn has is enough validation for the tourists to view this as an important site. They don’t have an interest for the history of the barn or why it became the most photographed barn in America. There can literally be no reasoning behind it but the fact that the media is involved it is good enough of a reason to stop by and take a pictures. This society is run so much by media that it takes away not only from the actual barn but also their individuality.