Neuromancer, Chapters 15-16
“I’m busy tonight, Molly. I built all this, and now I’m busy. Dying.”
In our latest reading of Neuromancer, we witness Molly infiltrating Villa Straylight, carefully navigating through its complex and perilous interior. As she advances, she shares a story from her past with Case, delving into her violent history. Molly's story revolves around Johnny (a character from one of Gibson's earlier works, Johnny Mnemonic). She recounts the tale of an unusually graceful assassin sent by the Yakuza to kill Johnny after he betrayed them. This narrative unveils her admiration for the assassin's lethal prowess and efficiency, highlighting Molly's awe and respect for the killer.
Toward the end of her account, Molly encounters an elderly Ashpool man who implies that 3Jane is dead. However, the man's mention of having "ordered a Jane thawed" suggests that there is more than one. Indeed, Molly later refers to 3Jane’s “clone sister.” This encounter vividly illustrates the twisted nature of the Tessier-Ashpool clan and the stark contrast between their technological capacity and ethics, uncovering the dark underbelly of this seemingly powerful family.
Wintermute had built something called Armitage into a catatonic fortress named Corto. Had convinced Corto that Armitage was the real thing, and Armitage had walked, talked, schemed, bartered data for capital, fronted for Wintermute in that room in the Chiba Hilton… And now Armitage was gone, blown away by the winds of Corto’s madness.
We then observe the disintegration of Armitage’s psychological state and the resurgence of his past identity, Colonel Willie Corto. Wintermute’s manipulations of time and memory play a significant role in this chapter, as the AI’s control starts to waver, and the past comes back to haunt the characters.
Case reaches out to Armitage, who appears to be losing his grip on reality. Armitage questions Case about Wintermute’s manifestations in the matrix, asking whether he resembles General Girling, Armitage’s former commander. This inquiry triggers concern, as it indicates that Armitage is beginning to unravel. As Case redirects his attention to Molly, guided by a drone sent by Wintermute, he receives further information about General Girling from Dixie while witnessing Armitage’s mental deterioration. Case alternates between different states of consciousness, such as simstim, body time, and cyberspace, causing his experience of reality to become fragmented. Wintermute, conversely, exhibits a greater capacity by being present in multiple realities concurrently. The AI manages to direct Molly via a drone and eliminate Armitage simultaneously, showcasing its immense power and control.
As Armitage's mental state deteriorates further, he reverts to his original identity as Corto. He issues orders to Case as though he were one of his soldiers and locks himself in the yacht's bridge, which houses an escape pod. Despite Case's desperate pleas, Corto launches the pod, but Wintermute interferes with the escape sequence, causing the pod to fail to seal properly and resulting in Corto's death.
“Corto, stop. Wait. You’re blind, man. You can’t fly! You’ll hit the fucking trees. And they’re trying to get you, Corto, I swear to God, they’ve left your hatch open. You’ll die, and you’ll never get to tell ‘em, and I gotta get the enzyme, name of the enzyme, the enzyme, man…” He was shouting, voice high with hysteria. Feedback shrilled out of the helmet’s phone pads.
The uncontrollable resurgence of the past leads to tragic consequences, as Wintermute's relentless manipulations of time and memory fail to prevent Corto's reemergence and his uncontrolled return ultimately results in his demise. This highlights the limits of the AI's control over human experience and the consequences of attempting to manipulate reality. Furthermore, Case's emotional response to Corto's fate reveals a more empathetic side to his character. Despite being a thrill-seeking junkie throughout most of the novel, Case feels deeply for Corto's situation and tries to save him, even though his efforts end in failure.
Discussion Questions:
What does the encounter with the elderly Ashpool man reveal about the Tessier-Ashpool family's values and priorities?
In what ways does Wintermute's manipulation of time and memory affect the characters' perception of reality, and how does this relate to the novel's themes?
How do Case's emotional responses to Corto's fate demonstrate a more empathetic side to his character, and what does this reveal about his personal growth throughout the novel?
Considering the uncontrollable return of the past and its tragic consequences, what message does the novel convey about the limits of artificial intelligence and its influence over human experience?
What are the ethical implications of the Tessier-Ashpool family's use of cloning and how does this tie into the novel's overall commentary on the potential dangers of advanced technology?