When I read for pleasure, I usually prefer stories with a traditional structure. These stories have an introduction, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. The most exciting part for me is wondering what will happen next in the story. After finishing a book, I usually don’t spend much time thinking about its deeper meanings or themes. My main focus has always been on following the chronological order of events in the plot. However, my perspective recently changed as I read “The History of Love,” “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close,” and “Let the Great World Spin.” These books introduced me to postmodernism. Exploring this literary genre made me think in an unconventional and abstract way–something that doesn’t come naturally to me. The unique aspects of postmodern writing both frustrated and captivated me at the same time.
“A Visit From the Goon Squad” by Jennifer Egan stands out as an exemplary novel of postmodernism. Egan employs postmodern techniques to narrate the tale of various characters who encounter a goon squad which represents time. Each character experiences time’s influence differently, with some flourishing while others succumb to hopelessness. Egan’s novel weaves together multiple stories told from different perspectives over the span of many years. This postmodern fiction blends a non-linear timeline, a shifting point of view, and mixed media to create interconnected narratives that convey the theme of how time relentlessly deprives characters of their success and lives.
Egan employs a nonlinear narrative technique that invites readers to construct their own interpretations of the characters’ lives. Throughout the book, Egan effortlessly navigates through time, continents, and decades. We witness Bennie’s transformation from a youthful rock star to a mature and successful record producer. Likewise, Sasha’s portrayal includes her struggles with kleptomania during a date with Alex and her eventual marriage and life with her husband in the desert. This unconventional approach challenges my previously held notions about storytelling and prompts me to reevaluate the traditional literary narratives that I, along with many other students, have been taught since elementary school. Egan’s intention is to defy the confines of traditional writing conventions and redefine the boundaries of storytelling.
In her writing, Egan challenges traditional storytelling conventions and incorporates elements of postmodernism to subvert expectations. Rather than following a linear chronology, she explores the characters’ past, present, and future simultaneously, blurring the boundaries of time. This narrative technique underscores Egan’s critique of human dissatisfaction and disrupts conventional notions of reality within the story.
Egan utilizes a nonlinear timeline to demonstrate that life is somewhat predetermined and challenges the notion of free will. She argues that although we believe we have control over our lives, we do not fully comprehend the reasons behind our “fate” or “destiny.” Egan attempts to explain this concept through her structural approach, which predicts the potential outcomes of situations. For example, she states that a relationship between a powerful, twice-divorced older male and a much younger female will likely be temporary due to their incompatible ambitions.
According to Egan, despite the belief of this “powerful twice-divorced male” that he is making his own choices in dating a younger woman and ultimately breaking up with her because of her ambitions, all of this was predetermined by the structural incompatibility. Egan introduces concepts such as structural resentment, structural affection, structural desire, and structural fixation to depict various situations and predetermined futures that we have no control over, even if we are unaware of it.
Egan’s novel exemplifies postmodernism through its constant shifting point of view. The story begins with Sasha, an employee of Bennie, a record label executive and former protégé of Lou. Lou, an older man, was once involved with Jocelyn, who used to hang out with Bennie during his time in the Flaming Dildos band. Eventually, Lou marries Stephanie, who takes it upon herself to revive the career of washed-up rock star Bosco. Jules, Stephanie’s brother and a celebrity journalist, covers Bosco’s story and is accused of raping Kitty Jackson. Kitty later starts working for Stephanie’s publicist, La Doll, who is working to improve the image of a genocidal dictator. In the end, Sasha runs away into the desert with her college boyfriend Drew to start a family, while Bennie, accompanied by Alex (who had a brief encounter with Sasha in the first chapter), continues his work in music production. This includes helping his old friend Scotty, who once had feelings for Jocelyn.
The book contains a complex web of stories, representing only a fraction of the total stories. Each chapter has different narrators, providing an authentic experience for readers. This changing perspective adds excitement to the book and demonstrates its postmodern style. By presenting multiple viewpoints, the novel examines how each character creates their own version of reality. Our personal understanding and comfort level influence our perception of what is real. Egan uses first person narration in some chapters to foster an emotional bond between readers and characters.
The first person point of view showcases the narrator’s thoughts, emotions, and opinions while also questioning the story’s objectivity. This aligns with the modernist perspective that challenges the concept of an objective reality. In postmodernism, there is a rejection of a singular truth. Interestingly, Egan incorporates second person narration, which is unusual. Second person narration enables readers to form their own understanding of reality through personal interpretations, promoting inclusivity. As one quote suggests, “Interpretation is vital; reality exists solely within our individual interpretations.”
A third way in which “A Visit From the Goon Squad” demonstrates postmodernism is through Egan’s incorporation of mixed media. Specifically, Egan dedicates around 70 pages to PowerPoint charts that represent the thoughts of Sasha’s children. Despite relying on visual cues, such as arrows, this chapter maintains its emotional impact. Egan’s use of PowerPoint as a literary genre pushes her novel further into the realm of postmodernism, while still effectively conveying the book’s theme.
It seems that Sasha has overcome her persistent stealing habit, and is now raising her family with her college boyfriend. It is known that her son has autism and has a fixation on song pauses. I believe these pauses, which he obsesses over, are also a reflection of Egan’s emphasis on time. The song continues playing, but there is a pause, with uncertainty about when it will end. Egan suggests that this mirrors the unpredictability of life, which deeply resonated with me. It motivates me to live more fully and not let the pauses consume my time.
This novel employs various postmodern concepts to express its theme; the idea that postmodernism prioritizes firsthand experience over abstract principles, acknowledging that people’s own experiences are inherently flawed and subjective, rather than absolute and universally applicable. Throughout the novel, the characters’ vulnerability and powerlessness in the face of time’s relentless march are portrayed. Their vulnerability is evidenced by their deterioration over time, as depicted through the non-linear timeline. Time cannot be evaded; the “goon” is inevitable. Characters rarely maintain an optimistic outlook. Within the book, time gradually strips away each individual’s youth, innocence, and accomplishments.
The characters in the text are reflecting on their pasts and how they have ended up where they are now. Bosco, who used to be a rock star, questions why he is no longer cared about by anyone. Lou took advantage of Jocelyn’s innocence by coercing her into performing oral sex on him during a concert. Similarly, Scotty lost his teenage success when Jocelyn rejected him, forcing him to work as a janitor. However, he eventually finds success in his later years. Despite feeling like the world is constantly moving and changing, the characters feel trapped in their own lives and are gradually becoming part of history. Through this non-linear timeline, we, as readers, can observe how time has molded them. “You grew up Alex, just like the rest of us.”
To sum up, I was amazed by the valuable insights I gained from a book. Understanding the depth of a story now prompts me to always consider the author’s intended message upon finishing reading. Egan effectively communicates her main point to readers, urging them to recognize the intricate structure of postmodern writing, just as I did. While postmodernism may not offer all the answers, it empowers readers to formulate their own conclusions. The conclusions I reached about various characters represent what I perceive as the genuine “truth,” which is a refreshing departure from modernist literature that imposes the author’s viewpoints. It is my belief that Egan anticipates these postmodern principles becoming integrated into readers’ daily lives, teaching them to constantly seek out truth based on their own comprehension. Now equipped with familiarity in postmodernism, my intention is to broaden my reading horizons and continue acquiring new knowledge.
Work Cited
Egan, Jennifer. A Visit from the Goon Squad. New York: Alfred A.
Knopf, 2010.
Print.
