Neuromancer Ending

The ending of Neuromancer leaves the reader, in my opinion, a bit more puzzled than anything else. We find ourselves wondering why so many things ended the way they did, although we do also find some answers. A few, in particular, stuck out as I read.

We learn that Molly leaves Case at the end of the novel, but there is no real reason why. Sure, we can speculate as to why Gibson did this, but there isn’t a true answer. It is a bit frustrating that this happens, as the two spend so much time together throughout the novel. I know I found myself “rooting” for the two of them to stay together. Another question I asked myself towards the end was, “exactly why are Molly and Case still working for this evil force even though it is clear he has no good intentions?” Wintermute is clearly evil; he kills people, even children, and for most of the novel, we have no idea why.

We finally do find out Wintermute’s ultimate goal: to combine with Neuromancer. It is still hard for me to understand, though, why they continued to work with him. Reading further, we also learn that Wintermute becomes the Matrix. Not only that, but we are able to conclude who is responsible for Linda Lee haunting Case. It is Neuromancer’s doing that that happens, and he is the one who kills Linda Lee at the beginning of the novel.

The novel ends similar to how it began, with a feeling of hopelessness. The reader is left with the idea that the best they can do in this scary world being overtaken by technology is survive. Just like Case and Molly, you do what you have to do to get by and move on to the future. That future will not necessarily be one filled with hope either. It left me kind of sad, and as I said before, pretty puzzled.

Neuromancer Motifs/Frameworks

“The abrupt jolt into another flesh. Matrix gone, a wave of sound and color…She was moving through a crowded street, past stalls vending discount software, process feltpenned on sheets of plastic, fragments of music from countless speakers.”

William Gibson’s Neuromancer has, thus far, left me with one motif/framework in mind. We discussed in class the idea of control, and I see it repeatedly in these last chapters. First with the device Case uses to experience the world from Molly’s body. It is a very strange concept, and a demonstration of how Molly loses a little bit of control. Molly is aware of what is happening, but she cannot do anything about it until Case decides to “leave.” Case, though, is the one who cannot respond to Molly. She can speak to him, but he is unable to answer back. So, the idea of control flip-flops because while Molly cannot get Case out of her body or her mind, Case cannot respond to anything Molly asks of him. This whole idea of telepathy controlled by technology is very interesting, and a new way to look at what technology could possibly be capable of.

“‘Wintermute,’ Yonderboy repeated, nodding, bobbing his crest of pink hair. His suit went matte black, a carbon shadow against old concrete. …Case closed his eyes, massaging them with numb fingers, leaning back against peeling brickwork. Ninsei had been a lot simpler.”

Another motif I became aware of was romance. Molly and Case grow increasingly closer as the story unfolds. The two are on adventures of sorts together, trying to investigate and figure things out. These adventures seem to be the cause of their growing bond. Control plays into this relationship as well, as they become determined to find out whom Armitage is working for. The tip that Wintermute is involved leads them on a further search. The two appear obsessed and express the desire to be in full control of what is going on.