The Drama Begins

Now we’re getting somewhere.

I just reached the first episode break, seven pages in. The initial conflict is now clear. Our narrator, Hal, is an applicant to the University of Arizona on a tennis scholarship (though whether this is something he wants or his uncle wants for him is open for debate at this point) and he is being interviewed by a bunch of suits from the university to determine whether his academic credentials are fake or not.

DFW has done a good job of creating tension with this rather mundane scenario. As readers, we’re forced to question the veracity and motives of pretty much everyone in the opening scene, including Hal.

I expect a good chunk of the early going will be devoted to sussing out who our narrator is, and whether he’s a reliable guide or not. We may find ourselves drowning here pretty quickly, with no lifeguard on duty.

A line I was particularly drawn to: It strikes me that EXIT signs would look to a native speaker of Latin like red-lit signs that say HE LEAVES.

Is Hal someone that really thinks about Latin when he sees an EXIT sign? He uses French as well, so maybe? Or is this simply a literary flourish from DFW. Either way, I’m intrigued.

But my dog looks bored so I’m going for a walk. Ta ta for now.

You are reading my live blog of Infinite Jest. Start at the beginning.