Efram Nugent in Jonathan Lethem's Term Paper

Open, View, and/or
Download this Document

Total Length: 830 words ( 3 double-spaced pages)

Total Sources: 1

Page 1 of 3

They had entered his space. Possibly any space he inhabited was his, the way he moved his shoulders to carve the air (Lethem 112).

Pella is able to immediately pick up on Efram's God-like demeanor, which thus provides the backdrop to her strong emotional ambivalence towards him. She feels herself strangely attracted to him; at the same time, she is also very much afraid of him and wishes to steer clear of him. She is unable to do so, however, because he persistently pulls her towards him with a sort of gravitational force that is beyond her control - or perhaps even her comprehension. It is through Efram that Pella feels herself becoming something truly other - transcending her human features and becoming one of Efram/God's vehicles of perception.

Pella comes to discover that Efram, whom she is clearly falling in love with is "the one who [knows] everyone else's secrets" (Lethem 206). If Efram is a God, however, then he is a wrathful, angry, avenging God - one that truly values his own species above that of the native Archbuilders, to the extent that he wishes to have the latter destroyed.

Stuck Writing Your "Efram Nugent in Jonathan Lethem's" Term Paper?

View All Our Example Efram Nugent in Jonathan Lethem's Term Paper

Have A Custom Example Essay Written

In this sense, Efram in many ways emulates the white European settlers in the United States who took it upon themselves to "play God" and effectively take land away by force from the Native American Indian population, who they regarded as savages unworthy of human life.

In fact, Efram could be said to also be symbolic of other such historical figures, such as Adolf Hitler, who view themselves as Gods or as saviors of humanity, taking it upon themselves to decide who has a right to life and who does not. It is his conspicuous presence that spoils the illusion of his Godliness; Efram only shows up in the narrative at random moments, but it always seems to be just the right time when he appears. So while Lethem positions Efram Nugent in a God-like role on the Planet of the Archbuilders, he does so by simultaneously asserting everything that Efram Nugent is not, thus effectively highlighting his human characteristics. These are the shortcomings that ultimately limit him in his God-like role, and eventually lead to his downfall.

Works.....

Show More ⇣

     Open the full completed essay and source list


OR

     Order a one-of-a-kind custom essay on this topic


sample essay writing service

Cite This Resource:

Latest APA Format (6th edition)

Copy Reference
"Efram Nugent In Jonathan Lethem's" (2007, December 08) Retrieved June 13, 2026, from
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/efram-nugent-jonathan-lethem-33511

Latest MLA Format (8th edition)

Copy Reference
"Efram Nugent In Jonathan Lethem's" 08 December 2007. Web.13 June. 2026. <
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/efram-nugent-jonathan-lethem-33511>

Latest Chicago Format (16th edition)

Copy Reference
"Efram Nugent In Jonathan Lethem's", 08 December 2007, Accessed.13 June. 2026,
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/efram-nugent-jonathan-lethem-33511
   

Open, View, and/or
Download this Document
order custom essay example