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Essay / Don Delillo - 1848
Since the publication of his first novel, Americana (1971), Don DeLillo (born 1936) has been recognized as one of the most important writers of his generation. Don Delillo demonstrates the theme of a corrupt society through his assessment of isolation, the quest to discover one's self-image, and the desire to create a sense of the end of the world. In his work, Don Delillo explores isolationism and its ability to reveal corrupt practices in society. Delillo tends to place themes in his writings that express his belief in a corrupt society. He believes that when individuals disconnect from society, they are made to think and express an opinion about civilization and its importance. It is easy to recognize this prevalent theme in many of his books. In Mark Osteen's literary review, "A Moral Form to Master Commerce", he states: "Thus he begins where many of Delillo's obsessive and ascetic protagonists end up residing: at the end there is a terminal landscape, empty, purified of noise and complexity. » (Osteen LC). Delillo often places his protagonists in situations where they develop negative judgments about humanity. This causes them to be overwhelmed and disappointed in his morals. Faced with these complexities, the characters temporarily detach themselves from society by hiding in an isolated location. In one of his most popular books, The Body Artist, Delillo explains that the key to realizing the fallacies of the humanities is isolation, that is, detachment from the values of society. These include: disorder, hassle and deception. Citizens are ultimately unaware of this due to cultural manipulation, lies and false values. In The Body Artist, the protagonist, Lauren, loses her husband, Rey, after his suicide. Lauren becomes overwhelmed...... middle of paper...... the subject, but it is a main achievement of corruption. Delillo explores this leitmotif of the end of the world and death in his book White Noise. Known to be his remarkable book, White Noise expresses the life of a professor named Jack Gladney who focuses on Hitler studies. It is on this strange obsession that he becomes interested in the thought of immortality. Even though Hitler is one of the most hated individuals in history, Jack feels that the number of deaths during the Holocaust cheapens Jack's own death. Because Jack and his wife, Babette, are so afraid of death, they numb their anxiety by consuming doses of pills. Along with the overdose, the couple is often caught exchanging opinions on which of them was going to die first. Besides the intensified anxiety they would feel if the other died, this also encourages Jack and Babette's fear of dying..