Randy Lenz goes through an evolution of sorts in this section of the text. Previously, he had played the role of a pathetic coke dealer who irritated Ennet House residents by repeatedly asking for the time. Halfway through the novel, we begin to see his powerlessness manifested as self-defeating and cruel.
Lenz keeps a secret stash of cocaine hidden in a large-print copy of the Principles of Psychology and the Gifford Lectures on Natural Religion. Although he has scaled way back on his coke intake, he still relies on it, secretively, to help him navigate certain emotional situations. But what is really troubling about Lenz is his penchant for killing animals on his solitary return walks from AA meetings.
The slaughter begins with rats eating leftovers by a dumpster. Then Lenz begins to trap cats in Hefty bags, ultimately using the steel-sak enforced bags to enclose the cats with a greater will to live. Inevitably, dogs become the focus of his fixation. Lens uses Gately’s leftover meatloaf as bat, induces the canines into thinking he is friendly, and then slits their throats. Nice guy, huh?
Paradoxically perhaps, Lenz establishes the beginnings of a friendship with Bruce Green. Green asks Lenz if he could walk with him after a meeting one night and Lenz agrees. The dynamics of their relationship are as such that Lenz rambles on incessantly while Green assumes the part of the active listener. The basis of their friendship is disrupted when Green spies Lenz killing a dog down the street from a Hawaiian-themed party.
I think it is worth mentioning that of all of the addicts we have encountered thus far in the novel, Lenz might be the first whose addiction is perhaps more outwardly destructive than self-defeating. Most of the addicts in the story (e.g. Kate, Joelle, Hal, Erdedy) stand only to hurt themselves in abusing drugs. (And while Orin’s sexual addiction requires the participation of another human being, at least it is not a life threatening endeavor.) For this reason, I find Lenz to be the most despicable character in the novel. In some ways, it begs the question, when does addiction transcend the individual and really become a societal problem?
Whoa, you and Louis are totally on the same page regarding Lenz—take a look. In less important considerations: any thoughts about the book that Lenz is hiding his cocaine in? (Or “the book in which Lenz is hiding his cocaine?”)
By: kmiddleton on August 11, 2009
at 9:40 pm
As you probably already knew, James authored The Varieties of Religious Experience, and excepts from this book were read at the Gifford Lecture series. I took a deeper look at James and was not surpised to learn that he too battled depression and had suicidal thoughts as a young man. Not sure how this relates to Lenz, but the list of DFW’s influences continues to grow…
By: randoni09 on August 12, 2009
at 1:54 am
Randy,
Kim’s right. We’re right there together. Lenz is pretty despicable. However, something about that friendship with Bruce Green is important. Green actually gets him to subside a little bit from his nightly endeavors. I think Green may have been Lenz’s only chance at genuine rehab. He seems to not care about many people, but something about their midnight walks calms his stress. Perhaps the answer is just the talking. If he had the insight, he would see how dedication to AA might help (as it is based on the same principle), but he instea loses his mind and chops up the wrong dog.
By: timesnine on August 11, 2009
at 10:08 pm
It is interesting to see the realtionship between Green and Lenz through Lenz’ eyes. He seems to understand fundamentally that he is friends with Green, but can not seem to make sense of it. He does not know why he can’t get the nerve to ask Green to stop walking with him. He broods over this when he clearly enjoys Green’s company. Perhaps he is hoping to be caught killing animals (which of course ultimately happens), or maybe he just really needs someone to listen to him. Plus they do have things in common. Those awful childhoods for example.
By: sean1871 on August 11, 2009
at 10:16 pm
“The war against drugs,” one that can never be one by the way, would suggest addiction /drugs are always a societal problem. It’s interesting how DFW wants to emphasize ent., and it’s role in society, yet drug use is an individuals choice only until one becomes addicted. One would think society wants people to be addicted to something so that control/order can be maintained.
I woudl agree this Lenz character is despicable and a complete nut-job. The more I read this novel the more I realize we, as writers, would never get away with this. I feel like we would be shredded and told to cut, cut, cut.
By: scott on August 11, 2009
at 10:19 pm
Randy,
I absolutely agree that Lenz is one of the book’s most vile characters. Honestly, I thought he was going to get coked up one night and take out one of the residents down. There was defiantly a sociopathic element to his narrative. The escalation from rodent to cat to dog got me worried.
Now that the big fight has gone down, I’m curious to find out what happens to Lenz. Does he get ferreted out of his hideout and end up in jail? Does he go on the run again? Also, the interesting thing about Bruce Green is that he has a lot of information on Lenz, information that he could use against him or share with the police.
I’m hoping that Wallace doesn’t drop this plot thread, because I want Lenz to be punished in someway for getting Gately shot.
Beth
By: bhkite on August 12, 2009
at 5:06 pm