It will pretty much come out and tell you what those symbols mean. In other words, the text in The Man in the High Castle won’t give you vague “clues” to its symbols that can mean anything you want. Thus, any symbolism in it is of the traditional “signifier” kind, as opposed to the post-modern “subjective” kind. Keep in mind that The Man in the High Castle is not in any way a postmodern book (except for the fact that is far too often mistaken for one) – in fact, it has far more in common with Cervantes’ sixteenth-century novel Don Quixote than it does with – for example – the “New Wave” of SF in the 1960s that was contemporary to PKD’s masterpiece. So, here are the keys to unlocking some of the deeper portions of the text. However, if you stay at that level, you may be bored or confused by the parts of the plot that ruminate on the encounters with the I Ching, Christianity, or a variety of the books that factor heavily as characters within the novel. The societies and the psychological effects resulting from this jarring divergence are profound and interesting. In fact, you can enjoy the novel at the level of What If…? adventure alone. The book appears to have a simple plot: it follows the day-to-day dreams and troubles of Americans (native or migrant) living in a nation divided by the two superpowers – Japan and Germany – who conquered the world in World War II, following the assasination of FDR. So, although I may simply be too stupid to realize that The Man in the High Castle really does have loose ends, it may still be helpful to provide a few tools so that you can be as fully satisfied with the book - as a complete work - as dumb ol’ me: The climax – which, despite the violence and world-rending involved – is subtle and potentially confusing, and though the story will linger in your mind for some time, the resolution is as masterful as any of Dick’s more action-oriented short stories with a kicker. It is a complete work – a complete universe (or multiverse, if you must). Of all the books I have ever read, none has less need for a sequel than The Man in the High Castle. It wasn’t until even later that I discovered that Dick himself intended to “complete” the novel with a sequel. Dick’s masterpiece of alternate history, I was confused by readers and fans who hoped for a sequel to “finish” it. Never let it be said that the ancients have no sense of humor.Įver since I first encountered Philip K. It presented me with Hexagram 14.Īll things come to the man…in a high position. I consulted the I Ching before writing this starter’s guide to The Man in the High Castle. America, 1962 The Man in the High Castle Version (at the height of the popular appeal of the blockbuster novel, The Grasshopper Lies Heavy.)
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |