Throughout the past few weeks of reading and blogging, many people have brought up different arguments as to which theme is most prevalent and revealing in William Gibson’s Neuromancer. Sherryl Vint’s “Cyberpunk: Return of the Repressed Body”, argues that the gender roles are extremely strong in the novel, and these roles have changed. More specifically, she argues that Case loses touch with his masculine side and becomes completely susceptible to the technological advances surrounding his life. I agree to a certain, less severe, extent. I personally feel Case does not necessarily lose touch with his masculinity but rather it is Molly to gains power, only making Case appear feminine. I also think Case does have some control over his actions, however small that power may be, I feel he has the ability to break away from the overpowering forces of technology and become his own person.
Vint interprets Case’s passive, soft behavior as feminine. She points out a scene in the novel where Case sees a glimpse of his image in the real world. Case sees “a white-faced, wasted figure, afloat in a loose fetal crouch” (Gibson 256). Vint suggests the “weak, pale, passive” adjectives are “typically feminized terms” (Vint 105). I would not go as far as she has. Case is about to go into Molly’s reality, which, in his eyes, is very powerful. I think what Case sees is almost a self-critique in comparison to the ‘heroic’ Molly. I still think Case is all male; Molly, however, just overpowers Case’s personality with her own dominating presence. Vint also refers to another author in her essay, Allucquere Rosanne Stone who wrote “Will the Real Body Please Stand Up?”. Vint supports Stone’s argument that “the technological limitations of rendering bodies in cyberspace using computer technology may actually tend to reinforce stereotypical notions about body, gender, and beauty” (105). I disagree with Stone and Vint here. I think the main reason Case seems so, as Vint would say, ‘feminine’ is directly related to technology. The technological advances Case has either adapted or been injected with are the main cause of his appearing less masculine. Whether it is Case’s new pancreas or the toxic sacs in his body, the new technology he has gained with the help of Armitage has significantly affected the way he reacts and looks in certain situations.
Although I agree with Sherryl Vint in that Case tends to seem less dominant than Molly, I would have to disagree with her when it comes to the reason for Case’s weak demeanor. I propose that Molly’s strong personality overpowers Case’s frail stature ultimately making him seem less of a man. Another point of Vint’s with which I strongly disagree is the role of technology. I feel technology is the main reason Case seems ‘feminine’ to Vint, even though she suspects the technology in Neuromancer only strengthens gender roles.
Leo, when you point out that Case is not as feminine as Vint describes him to be, I completely agree. It seems that the whole argument that Case is becoming more feminine is blown out of proportion. The whole argument that Vint takes on is very relative to Molly. If Molly was just another girl, I don’t think Case would be described as feminine. It’s just that when you compare Molly versus Case, yes, Case seems to be less dominant and behaves more like a stereotypical female, and Molly like a stereotypical male. As you point out, the simstim makes the comparison between the two even more literal. Vint’s argument is adequate in logic, but in all honesty, I believe it has to do with character personality types rather than Gibson trying to send a message.
Leo, if I’m following you, your contention is that Case is not so much feminized as that Molly is made extremely masculine (if we rely on gender stereotypes), and that Case subsequently only appears weak? If that’s your point, how would an author ever make a male character more feminine?
It’s important to recognize as well that Vint is talking more about bodies than gender.