Brita Nilsson as an intermediary

Keeping in mind Rabinowitz’s rules and making special note of how Delillo chose to finish his novel, I agree with cmckenz7’s assessment that Delillo is purposefully trying to foster an ultimate solidarity with Brita Nilsson’s character.

This makes perfect sense when we consider that throughout the novel, we are introduced and witness the development of characters which serve as some kind of archetype for the various influences of human consciousness, for reclusive and group behavior, as well as the oft-mentioned relationship between art and terror.

Ultimately, Brita’s character is the one that takes the time to take a step back from the activity and notice the “picture” set before her. There is a period of reflection and seemingly, a resolution of sorts in her observations “The city is quiet for the first time since she arrived. She examines the silence.” (240)

Brita’s character throughout the novel was a sympathetic one. And she serves as an intermediary in the dialogue in several ways. Her trade, as a photographer is significant in this way when we consider the photograph can be art (novel) as well as news (terror).

In her stated intentions of photographing writers, particularly reclusive ones, Brita is presented as a character with a desire to bring things out into the open, to reveal what seeks to be hidden. “If someone’s not well-known, so much the better. Given a choice, I prefer to search out writers who remain obscure.” (25)

On the same page, Brita states her independence when discussing her love for traveling and photographing writers. The independence of her own character and her desire to expose in some way reclusive writers, serve to position her, once again, as an intermediary between, in this case, reclusive and group, behavior.

In terms of the relationship between the novelist and terrorist, Karen states her inability to fully assimilate with either.

A professed and avid reader, Brita does state that she feels “like an outsider” when compared to writers, as cmckenzy7 pointed out. In the novel’s last chapter, Brita states she is no longer interested in photographing writers only. Instead she says she photographs on assignment, which also comes to become laborious for her. “She has come here already tired of these stories…” (228).

Ultimately, Brita’s character represents in my estimation, the independent soul who broadly read and observant, is hesitant to invest too much of herself in the conventions of the novelist or terrorist.

 

 

One thought on “Brita Nilsson as an intermediary”

  1. I agree that Brita is like an outsider. It really struck me when Karen gets so emotional about the crowds on the television and she turns to see Brita standing there calmly smoking a cigarette.

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