Conclusion of Neuromancer by Shruti Bhave

I thought that there was a dramatic shift in the plot at the end of the novel in the way that it brang in and connected a different array of ideas. Case delves into another one of his hallucinations but this time, they are controlled not by Wintermute, but by his brother Neuromancer. Neuromancer's hallucination takes place on a beach where Marie-France spent the summer trying to figure out the AI's. We find out that it is Neuromancer, not Wintermute, that kills Linda Lee, hoping to bring her into this hallucination to trap Case. In previous chapeters, Linda Lee's face kept on appearing in the matrix whenever Case jacked in, and we discover that Neuromancer has been the culprit behind this all along. I thought that the image of the fire was interesting. No matter how much driftwood Case added to the fire, he stayed cold. This may be analogous to his relationship to Linda Lee. Like the fire, she is trying to generate warmth towards him as she keeps on appearing in his hallucinations but no matter how hard she tries, Case won't reciprocate that love. In that sense, he has turned cold to her. This is also proven by choice he makes to leave the hallucination even if Linda urges him to stay. He does not fall into the trap. Case completes his mission and returns to his old life in the Sprawl.

I think its interesting how Gibson portrays the distinction between the 2 AI's Wintermute and Neuromancer. Wintermute's hallucinations were constructed out of Case's memories and he impersonated people from Case's life while Neuromancer impersonated a little boy with Riviera's eyes. Gibson tells us, "Wintermute was hive mind, decision maker, effecting change in the world outside. Neuromancer was personality. Neuromancer was immortality" (259). Neuromancer's character seems to be more manipultive and more free than Wintermute's. He seems more capable of blackmail as he is capable of influencing Case's emotions by reminding him of Linda. Like his name suggests, he is capable of summoning the dead (Linda) and use her to influence Case's actions.

Some questions that are raised are by the end of the novel: Why does Wintermute not warn Case of who Neuromancer is and what he can do? Why does Molly decide to leave Case? What's the deal with the Finn claiming that he is the matrix? Why does Wintermute want to unite with Neuromancer? Why does Neuromancer want to trap Case in the first place? Why is Neuromancer the title of the novel?