The Confusion Behind Lee Harvey Oswald
The character of Lee Harvey Oswald as depicted in DeLillo's Libra can be explained as confounding, and throughout the course of the novel, DeLillo only further amplifies the confusion surrounding Oswald's character. One could argue that his confusing persona just reflects his idiotic personality, but as DeLillo narrates the actions of Oswald, the true intentions of his puzzling behavior might be the results of his longing of leaving a mark in history. DeLillo depicts Lee as having a perplexing desire to draw unfavorable attention towards himself. An example is when Oswald joins the Marines. While in the Marines, Oswald talks of his desire to travel to the USSR and pretends to know an ample amount of information about a U2 plane captured by the Soviet Union. The other guys at the military make fun of Oswald, which seems to be the kind of attention that Oswald desires. In order to fulfill his need to be regarded as significant, Lee has an unset...