In this section of the text, Wallace gives us the play-by-play of Hal Incandenza’s hiccup vs. “The Darkness” on the tennis court. Although we learn much about competition in this section, as well as which E.T.A. players are most likely to go the distance, I was most interested in the light that was shed upon Hal’s emotions.
At some point prior to the contest, Hal has decided to kick his marijuana habit. It seems his desire to do so is more about not withholding secrets than the actual habit itself. So, from the get-go, as readers, we sense there is a sea change a-coming.
During the match itself, deLint explains to Helen Steeply why Dr. Tavis will not allow her (Helen) to interview Hal for her soft profile on Orin. “The point here for the best kids is to inculcate their sense that it’s never about being seen,” he says. In defining the protective elements of the E.T.A. (as engineered by Schtitt) deLint cites the media, fame and entertainment-obsessed fans as potential pitfalls for the athletes. As the match continues, Thierry Poutrincourt, a female prorector, weighs in on the topic. She says the athletes “must have something built into them along the path that will let them transcend it” (meaning the pitfalls of success). What deLint and Poutrincourt are essentially referring to is the closed system which Danielle had originally written about in her blog.
I am going to go out on a limb here and say that the closed system CAN NOT WORK for eveyone. We learned last night that annular fusion’s main goal is to produce enough toxic waste to feed a system that kills the toxic waste. This, as we know, is tantamount to “doing somersaults with one hand nailed to the ground.” In other words, the system will exist but never thrive. I believe the same criteria can be applied to Schtitt’s philosophy for teaching young people tennis. His theory is predicated on the belief that all human beings have the ability to shut off their emotions, and exist only for the thing in which they are engaged. Fat chance, Gerhardt. Not every tennis player is hard-wired like Wayne. Emotions, like many things, run on a continuum, and a one-size-fits-all approach won’t work.
We cannot concentrate all of our efforts into one area. Thus, it is clear to me now that this novel is really about balance.
