Essay Questions

Do you think there is dysfunctional communication in the novel Point Omega by Don DeLillo? Please explain.

As the novel begins, the reader can see that most of the characters are struggling to converse properly due to some reasons. For instance, Elster is having difficulties in communicating, as it should be due to old age and lack of exposure to the outside world. It is not good to judge him because of his poor communication. His customers find it hard to understand him at his business. A good example is Jim who seems not to get what Elster is saying. However, Jim fails to understand that Elster’s age is contributing to his poor dysfunctional communication. Additionally, Jessie complicates the situation further because of her unintentional comments, which further confuses Elster and Jim. Therefore, it is indeed true that there is dysfunctional communication in the novel because the characters do not understand each other effectively.

What does the narrator mean when he says, “Everybody remembers the killer’s name, Norman Bates, but nobody remembers the victim’s name. Anthony Perkins is Norman Bates, Janet Leigh is Janet Leigh. The victim is required to share the name of the actress who plays her. It is Janet Leigh who enters the remote motel owned by Norman Bates”?

The narrator is trying to show the reader how subjective the characters are especially when it comes to memory. They are quick to remember the murderer but no one cares much about remembering the victim’s name. Everybody in the novel knows Norman very well. The play articulated out of this novel takes two hours. For those who have already read the novel, they are aware of what will take place in advance. This shows subjectivity because it becomes unfair advantage to those who have not read the novel and it is their first time to watch the film.

How does Don DeLillo uses characters, Jessie and Jim, to bring out the irony of voyeurism?

Jim is very excited when Jessie arrives during his conversation with Elster. He takes pleasure in her company and he cannot stop wondering how gorgeous she looks. She is blessed with beauty and marvelous body. Jessie notices that Jim is being too much and his behavior is scaring her away. She decides to go back to New York and stay away from Jim. It becomes ironic for Jim that he is carried by emotions and behaves inappropriately towards Jessie. This wasn’t his intention becomes he wanted to look at her from a distance without making her uncomfortable.